Pub Date : 2025-10-27eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250159
Pedro Viegas, Luís L Ferreira, Mariana Vieira, Pedro Barbosa, João P Ramos, Raquel Duarte
Objective: Personal experiences, perceptions, and views of patients are crucial in understanding the subjective impacts of diseases. The complexity and duration of tuberculosis treatment impose significant physical, emotional, social, and economic burdens, highlighting the need for person-centered, integrated care strategies that address stigma, fatigue, and accessibility to support well-being. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for capturing patient perspectives and improving health care strategies. In this study we explored the multifaceted experiences of patients with tuberculosis, seeking to understand their values and priorities during treatment.
Methods: Semistructured interviews with adult tuberculosis patients were conducted at a referral center for tuberculosis diagnosis and management in northern Portugal. After verbatim transcription and anonymization, thematic analysis was performed.
Results: Seventeen interviews were conducted. Most (58.8%) of the study participants were male, and most had pulmonary tuberculosis. Our thematic analysis identified five PROs: treatment experiences; health-related quality of life; functional status; symptoms and symptom burden; and health behaviors. People with tuberculosis acknowledged the impact of multiple factors on their overall health, particularly the psychological and physical burdens of tuberculosis and its treatment. Several areas for improvement and opportunities for enhanced support were identified, particularly in communication, emotional support, and management of treatment burden.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need for tailored PRO measures (PROMs) addressing treatment burden, psychosocial distress, and functional limitations in tuberculosis care. Enhancing communication, psychological support, and multidisciplinary approaches in tuberculosis management could improve patient outcomes and overall well-being. Addressing tuberculosis-related stigma and providing targeted interventions may contribute to a more people-centered approach to care.
{"title":"Patient-reported outcomes in tuberculosis: a qualitative exploration of psychosocial, economic, and treatment-related challenges.","authors":"Pedro Viegas, Luís L Ferreira, Mariana Vieira, Pedro Barbosa, João P Ramos, Raquel Duarte","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250159","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Personal experiences, perceptions, and views of patients are crucial in understanding the subjective impacts of diseases. The complexity and duration of tuberculosis treatment impose significant physical, emotional, social, and economic burdens, highlighting the need for person-centered, integrated care strategies that address stigma, fatigue, and accessibility to support well-being. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are essential for capturing patient perspectives and improving health care strategies. In this study we explored the multifaceted experiences of patients with tuberculosis, seeking to understand their values and priorities during treatment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Semistructured interviews with adult tuberculosis patients were conducted at a referral center for tuberculosis diagnosis and management in northern Portugal. After verbatim transcription and anonymization, thematic analysis was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen interviews were conducted. Most (58.8%) of the study participants were male, and most had pulmonary tuberculosis. Our thematic analysis identified five PROs: treatment experiences; health-related quality of life; functional status; symptoms and symptom burden; and health behaviors. People with tuberculosis acknowledged the impact of multiple factors on their overall health, particularly the psychological and physical burdens of tuberculosis and its treatment. Several areas for improvement and opportunities for enhanced support were identified, particularly in communication, emotional support, and management of treatment burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings highlight the need for tailored PRO measures (PROMs) addressing treatment burden, psychosocial distress, and functional limitations in tuberculosis care. Enhancing communication, psychological support, and multidisciplinary approaches in tuberculosis management could improve patient outcomes and overall well-being. Addressing tuberculosis-related stigma and providing targeted interventions may contribute to a more people-centered approach to care.</p>","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250159"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602053/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421841","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250321
Maria Enedina Claudino Aquino Scuarcialupi, Carlos Leonardo Carvalho Pessôa, Ramiro Dourado-Maranhão
{"title":"Electronic cigarettes: emerging challenges in cessation and dependence management. A call for evidence-based guidelines to address a growing epidemic among Brazilian youth.","authors":"Maria Enedina Claudino Aquino Scuarcialupi, Carlos Leonardo Carvalho Pessôa, Ramiro Dourado-Maranhão","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250321","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250321","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250321"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602070/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250106
Carolina Fernanda Oliveira Santos Tallarico, Priscila Carla Moura Honório, Vanusa Barbosa Pinto, Alberto Cukier, Rodrigo Abensur Athanazio, Regina Maria de Carvalho-Pinto
{"title":"Trends in clinical and pharmacological profiles of severe asthma in the era of biologics in the Brazilian public health system: real-world evidence from a tertiary outpatient clinic.","authors":"Carolina Fernanda Oliveira Santos Tallarico, Priscila Carla Moura Honório, Vanusa Barbosa Pinto, Alberto Cukier, Rodrigo Abensur Athanazio, Regina Maria de Carvalho-Pinto","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250106","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250106","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250106"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602050/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250061
Stella Regina Martins, Paulo César Rodrigues Pinto Corrêa, Carolina Costa, Márcio Gonçalves de Sousa, Cristiane Almeida Pires Tourinho, Vera Lúcia Gomes Borges
Electronic nicotine delivery systems, electronic cigarettes, or vapes have been extensively marketed as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes and as aids for smoking cessation. However, electronic cigarettes often deliver more potent forms of nicotine, such as nicotine salts and synthetic nicotine, which are masked by appealing aromas and flavors, thereby attracting nonsmoking children and adolescents. On the other hand, adults dependent on freebase nicotine (found in conventional cigarettes) often become addicted to these new forms of nicotine in electronic cigarettes. Dual use is common and poses significant health risks, potentially exceeding those of using either product alone. Dual users experience increased odds of COPD, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Electronic cigarettes represent a new challenge for global public health and health professionals. There are currently no specific guidelines for vaping cessation treatment. This study sought to provide health professionals with a comprehensive vaping cessation approach, including effective strategies such as behavioral support, nicotine replacement therapy, and the use of nicotine-free medications.
{"title":"Vaping cessation: how to treat nicotine dependence and tailor the nicotine replacement dose. A narrative review.","authors":"Stella Regina Martins, Paulo César Rodrigues Pinto Corrêa, Carolina Costa, Márcio Gonçalves de Sousa, Cristiane Almeida Pires Tourinho, Vera Lúcia Gomes Borges","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250061","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electronic nicotine delivery systems, electronic cigarettes, or vapes have been extensively marketed as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes and as aids for smoking cessation. However, electronic cigarettes often deliver more potent forms of nicotine, such as nicotine salts and synthetic nicotine, which are masked by appealing aromas and flavors, thereby attracting nonsmoking children and adolescents. On the other hand, adults dependent on freebase nicotine (found in conventional cigarettes) often become addicted to these new forms of nicotine in electronic cigarettes. Dual use is common and poses significant health risks, potentially exceeding those of using either product alone. Dual users experience increased odds of COPD, lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Electronic cigarettes represent a new challenge for global public health and health professionals. There are currently no specific guidelines for vaping cessation treatment. This study sought to provide health professionals with a comprehensive vaping cessation approach, including effective strategies such as behavioral support, nicotine replacement therapy, and the use of nicotine-free medications.</p>","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250061"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602049/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250161
Adriana Gioda
{"title":"Indoor air pollution from firewood combustion in Indigenous malocas in the Brazilian Amazon: exposure to fine particulate matter and associated health risks.","authors":"Adriana Gioda","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250161","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250161","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250161"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250234
Tiene Heidy Maoski, Giovana Rodrigues Pereira, André Kulzer Santos, Raimunda Sinthia Lima de Braga, Marina Scheffer de Souza, Gean Souza Ramos, Allanamara Pereira Marinho, Renata Ullmann de Brito Neves, Denise Rossato Silva
Objective: Preventive treatment of active tuberculosis is one of the main strategies for reducing the incidence of tuberculosis. We sought to evaluate the rates of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment completion with three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine (3HP) and compare them with those for six to nine months of daily isoniazid (6H/9H).
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients undergoing LTBI treatment with 3HP or 6H/9H were included in the study. Treatment completion rates and adverse effects were analyzed.
Results: A total of 226 patients were included in the study: 113 in the 3HP group and 113 in the 6H/9H group. The frequency of adverse effects was not significantly different between the 3HP and 6H/9H groups. The 3HP group had a higher treatment completion rate (93.8%) than did the 6H/9H group (84.1%), the difference being significant.
Conclusions: The rates of LTBI treatment completion appear to be higher with 3HP than with 6H/9H. Health care professionals should be vigilant in managing adverse effects to further maximize LTBI treatment completion.
{"title":"Treatment completion rates and adverse effects of three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine for latent tuberculosis infection.","authors":"Tiene Heidy Maoski, Giovana Rodrigues Pereira, André Kulzer Santos, Raimunda Sinthia Lima de Braga, Marina Scheffer de Souza, Gean Souza Ramos, Allanamara Pereira Marinho, Renata Ullmann de Brito Neves, Denise Rossato Silva","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250234","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Preventive treatment of active tuberculosis is one of the main strategies for reducing the incidence of tuberculosis. We sought to evaluate the rates of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) treatment completion with three months of once-weekly isoniazid plus rifapentine (3HP) and compare them with those for six to nine months of daily isoniazid (6H/9H).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients undergoing LTBI treatment with 3HP or 6H/9H were included in the study. Treatment completion rates and adverse effects were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 226 patients were included in the study: 113 in the 3HP group and 113 in the 6H/9H group. The frequency of adverse effects was not significantly different between the 3HP and 6H/9H groups. The 3HP group had a higher treatment completion rate (93.8%) than did the 6H/9H group (84.1%), the difference being significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The rates of LTBI treatment completion appear to be higher with 3HP than with 6H/9H. Health care professionals should be vigilant in managing adverse effects to further maximize LTBI treatment completion.</p>","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 5","pages":"e20250234"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602054/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145450557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250003
Gustavo de Souza Dos Reis, José Baddini-Martinez, Bruno Sanches Masiero
{"title":"Pulmonary function estimation using smartphone audio and deep learning.","authors":"Gustavo de Souza Dos Reis, José Baddini-Martinez, Bruno Sanches Masiero","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250003","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 4","pages":"e20250003"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12602046/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145421814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250051
Flávia Angélica Ferreira Francisco, João Victor Cavalcanti Mesquita Pinto, Edson Marchiori
{"title":"High-grade chondrosarcoma of the sacrum with mediastinal metastases and a tumor thrombus to the inferior vena cava and right atrium.","authors":"Flávia Angélica Ferreira Francisco, João Victor Cavalcanti Mesquita Pinto, Edson Marchiori","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250051","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250051","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 3","pages":"e20250051"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12401097/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-08eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250022
Pedro Magalhães Ferreira, Rui Campos, Carolina Valente, Joana Ferreira, Cláudia Freitas, Catarina Sousa, David Araújo, Hélder Novais Bastos, Adriana Magalhães, Maria Gabriela O Fernandes
Objectives: The 9th edition of the Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM-9) lung cancer classification is set to replace the 8th edition (TNM-8) starting in 2025. Key updates include the splitting of the mediastinal nodal category N2 into single- and multiple-station involvement, as well as the classification of multiple extrathoracic metastatic lesions as involving a single organ system (M1c1) or multiple organ systems (M1c2). This study aimed to assess how the TNM-9 revisions affect the final staging of lung cancer patients and how these changes correlate with overall survival (OS).
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2018 and 2021, who were staged according to both TNM-8 and TNM-9 criteria. The staging classifications were analyzed and compared in relation to OS.
Results: Among a total of 914 patients, 42 were re-staged using TNM-9. Of the 382 patients classified as stage IVB, 55.9% were reclassified as M1c2. Despite an absolute increase in mean OS for patients re-staged from IIB to IIA and from IIIA to IIB, the observed differences were not statistically significant. Median OS differed significantly both within stage IVB and between patients with M1c2 disease and other stage IV subgroups. Multi-organ metastatic disease was an independent predictor of poorer OS, regardless of age, sex, performance status, and oncologic treatment.
Conclusions: TNM-9 improves prognostic accuracy in lung cancer. Although patients with multiple extrathoracic metastases involving different organ systems are not yet independently staged from IVB, they demonstrated significantly poorer OS compared to other advanced-stage patients.
{"title":"Out with the old - advancements and shortcomings of the updated 9th edition of the Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM) classification system for lung cancer.","authors":"Pedro Magalhães Ferreira, Rui Campos, Carolina Valente, Joana Ferreira, Cláudia Freitas, Catarina Sousa, David Araújo, Hélder Novais Bastos, Adriana Magalhães, Maria Gabriela O Fernandes","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250022","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The 9th edition of the Tumor, Node, Metastasis (TNM-9) lung cancer classification is set to replace the 8th edition (TNM-8) starting in 2025. Key updates include the splitting of the mediastinal nodal category N2 into single- and multiple-station involvement, as well as the classification of multiple extrathoracic metastatic lesions as involving a single organ system (M1c1) or multiple organ systems (M1c2). This study aimed to assess how the TNM-9 revisions affect the final staging of lung cancer patients and how these changes correlate with overall survival (OS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with lung cancer between 2018 and 2021, who were staged according to both TNM-8 and TNM-9 criteria. The staging classifications were analyzed and compared in relation to OS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among a total of 914 patients, 42 were re-staged using TNM-9. Of the 382 patients classified as stage IVB, 55.9% were reclassified as M1c2. Despite an absolute increase in mean OS for patients re-staged from IIB to IIA and from IIIA to IIB, the observed differences were not statistically significant. Median OS differed significantly both within stage IVB and between patients with M1c2 disease and other stage IV subgroups. Multi-organ metastatic disease was an independent predictor of poorer OS, regardless of age, sex, performance status, and oncologic treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>TNM-9 improves prognostic accuracy in lung cancer. Although patients with multiple extrathoracic metastases involving different organ systems are not yet independently staged from IVB, they demonstrated significantly poorer OS compared to other advanced-stage patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 3","pages":"e20250022"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12401156/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145033158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-08eCollection Date: 2025-01-01DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20250068
Ana L Bierrenbach, Olivia T Ranzani
Objective: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe respiratory infections in older adults, particularly those with comorbidities. Despite its clinical impact, RSV remains underdiagnosed and underreported. We sought to assess the burden of RSV in older adults (≥ 60 years of age) in Brazil using national surveillance data for the 2022-2023 period.
Methods: We analyzed RSV cases reported in the Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica, identifying them among reported cases of SARS. Cases were examined by demographic characteristics, seasonal trends, and clinical outcomes. RSV cases were compared across defined etiologies.
Results: Among 355,230 reported cases of SARS in older adults, 201,965 (56.8%) had a defined etiology, and 1,465 (0.7%) were confirmed as RSV cases. Cases peaked in the second quarter of each year, with the highest incidence in the southern and southeastern regions. Despite a low hospitalization rate (2.3 per 100,000 population), severe outcomes were common: 30.4% required ICU admission, and 24.9% resulted in death, with mortality being highest in those ≥ 90 years of age.
Conclusions: RSV-related hospitalizations in Brazil appear underestimated, with reported cases likely representing the most severe spectrum due to underreporting and diagnostic limitations. Seasonal patterns peaked in April-May, and regional differences highlight a higher incidence in the southern and southeastern regions, likely due to epidemiological factors and diagnostic disparities. Although the recent approval of RSV vaccines offers an opportunity to reduce disease burden, successful implementation requires broader access and inclusion in the Brazilian National Immunization Program. Strengthening surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and reporting processes is critical for better disease assessment and public health planning.
{"title":"Burden of respiratory syncytial virus in older adults in Brazil: insights from national surveillance data for the 2022-2023 period.","authors":"Ana L Bierrenbach, Olivia T Ranzani","doi":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250068","DOIUrl":"10.36416/1806-3756/e20250068","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe respiratory infections in older adults, particularly those with comorbidities. Despite its clinical impact, RSV remains underdiagnosed and underreported. We sought to assess the burden of RSV in older adults (≥ 60 years of age) in Brazil using national surveillance data for the 2022-2023 period.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed RSV cases reported in the Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica, identifying them among reported cases of SARS. Cases were examined by demographic characteristics, seasonal trends, and clinical outcomes. RSV cases were compared across defined etiologies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 355,230 reported cases of SARS in older adults, 201,965 (56.8%) had a defined etiology, and 1,465 (0.7%) were confirmed as RSV cases. Cases peaked in the second quarter of each year, with the highest incidence in the southern and southeastern regions. Despite a low hospitalization rate (2.3 per 100,000 population), severe outcomes were common: 30.4% required ICU admission, and 24.9% resulted in death, with mortality being highest in those ≥ 90 years of age.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>RSV-related hospitalizations in Brazil appear underestimated, with reported cases likely representing the most severe spectrum due to underreporting and diagnostic limitations. Seasonal patterns peaked in April-May, and regional differences highlight a higher incidence in the southern and southeastern regions, likely due to epidemiological factors and diagnostic disparities. Although the recent approval of RSV vaccines offers an opportunity to reduce disease burden, successful implementation requires broader access and inclusion in the Brazilian National Immunization Program. Strengthening surveillance, diagnostic capacity, and reporting processes is critical for better disease assessment and public health planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":14845,"journal":{"name":"Jornal Brasileiro De Pneumologia","volume":"51 3","pages":"e20250068"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12401152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145032644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}