Population characteristics of patients infected by COVID-19

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the population profile of patients affected by COVID-19 in Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional retrospective study, with data from E-SUS of the municipality that had an outcome for COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023. A descriptive analysis of the variables age group, sex, gender, hospitalizations and deaths was carried out with a total of 14,553 patients distributed over the four years. Results: The temporal analysis (2020–2023) revealed a higher incidence and mortality in the first two years, peaking in 2021. The elderly were the most affected, and there was a higher number of hospitalizations among women aged 41 to 60. In 2020, men aged 18 to 40 were the most affected, possibly due to occupational exposure. From 2021 onwards, cases began to affect more women, although deaths remained more frequent among men. In 2023, there was a significant decrease in cases and deaths, reflecting the impact of vaccination and containment strategies. Conclusion: The analysis revealed variations in the profile of those affected, highlighting the severity in the first years and the reduction in 2023. The importance of epidemiological surveillance and temporal analysis to support public health strategies and future research is reinforced.