Epidemiological analysis of the incidence of acquired syphilis in the elderly population of Brazil between 2013 and 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Syphilis is a bacterial infection caused by Treponema pallidum, which is predominantly transmitted sexually and vertically. It is a major public health problem due to its ability to develop into a serious systemic disease when left untreated, significantly increasing the risk of infection by other infectious sexual diseases. Due to social and medical advances, there have been impacts on human longevity, allowing the elderly population to achieve new possibilities for an active sexual life, directly affecting the incidence of this disease in individuals over 60 years of age. Objectives: To analyze and discuss the incidence of syphilis in elderly individuals in Brazil from 2013 to 2023. Methodology: Ecological study of temporal analysis carried out through records of the Information System for Notifiable Diseases of syphilis cases in elderly individuals in Brazil, from 2013 to 2023. Data on notifications of syphilis in individuals aged 60 years and older contained in SINAN and population data made available by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) were obtained by TabNet, an electronic tabulator available on the website of the Department of Information Technology of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). Descriptive variables were: sex, age group, and region of notification. Results: A total of 121,011 cases of syphilis in elderly individuals were found. Males had the highest number of cases, totaling 72,736, of which 27,969 occurred between the ages of 60 and 64. Females had a value of 48,199 and are also more common between the ages of 60 and 64 (18,472). Among the years observed, in 2023 there were 21,596 cases, followed by 2022 with 18,417 cases and 2019 with 14,140. Finally, the region with a predominance of syphilis in the elderly was the Southeast region, totaling 61,589 (50.9%) and the region with the fewest cases was the Central-West, with only 5.8% of the cases. Discussion and Conclusion: The improvement in quality of life and the increase in longevity have increased sexual relations in old age. Resistance to the use of condoms and the lack of information cause syphilis to spread. Knowing this, it is essential that care is taken in geriatric consultations so that educational information is provided that aims to prevent this IST.