Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019

Abstract Background Malaria is infectious disease with low occurrence in Brazil extra-Amazon Region. Despite this, higher lethality is observed in this region compared to the country's endemic area. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse factors associated with malaria hospitalizations (severe...

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Main Authors: Anderson Coutinho da Silva, Elisabeth Carmem Duarte, Paola Barbosa Marchesini, Giselle Maria Rachid Viana, Walter Massa Ramalho, Klauss K. S. Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Malaria Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05357-y
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author Anderson Coutinho da Silva
Elisabeth Carmem Duarte
Paola Barbosa Marchesini
Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
Walter Massa Ramalho
Klauss K. S. Garcia
author_facet Anderson Coutinho da Silva
Elisabeth Carmem Duarte
Paola Barbosa Marchesini
Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
Walter Massa Ramalho
Klauss K. S. Garcia
author_sort Anderson Coutinho da Silva
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Malaria is infectious disease with low occurrence in Brazil extra-Amazon Region. Despite this, higher lethality is observed in this region compared to the country's endemic area. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse factors associated with malaria hospitalizations (severe malaria) in the extra-Amazon Region, in order to prevent deaths. Methods A case–control design was used, utilizing data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) and hospitalization records from the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS) from 2011 to 2019. Cases comprised hospitalized malaria patients, while controls included reported malaria notifications without hospitalization. Probabilistic record linkage techniques were employed, and associations were analysed using multiple logistic regression with a 0.05 significance level. Results The main risk factors identified were: Black or mixed-race ethnicity (OR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04–1.43), low education (elementary school OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.78–2.75 or high school OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.39–2.13), infection outside the extra-Amazon Region (Amazon Region OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.15–1.96 or abroad OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.28–2.32), high parasite count (501 to 10,000/mm3 OR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.27–1.80, 10,001 to 100,000/mm3 OR = 1.77; 95% CI 2.87–1.96 or higher than 100,000/mm3 OR = 3.15; 95% CI 2.20–4.50) and delayed treatment (after 3–7 days symptoms onset OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.36–2.24 or 8 days or more OR = 2.08; 95% CI 1.62–2.66). Active case detection was a protective factor (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.54–0.78). Conclusions Delayed treatment remains a key factor in the occurrence of severe malaria, leading to high parasitaemia and revealing inequalities in access to healthcare based on socioeconomic differences. Travel to the Amazon Region or other countries also poses a challenge, requiring strengthened traveller health strategies and increased surveillance awareness to promptly suspect and identify cases.
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spelling doaj-art-2fe54a616c3140648cb46a2cee77e40f2025-08-20T03:42:34ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-07-0124111310.1186/s12936-025-05357-yFactors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019Anderson Coutinho da Silva0Elisabeth Carmem Duarte1Paola Barbosa Marchesini2Giselle Maria Rachid Viana3Walter Massa Ramalho4Klauss K. S. Garcia5Center of Tropical Medicine, University of BrasiliaCenter of Tropical Medicine, University of BrasiliaHealth Secretariat of Health and Environmental Surveillance, Ministry of HealthEvandro Chagas Institute, Ministry of HealthCenter of Tropical Medicine, University of BrasiliaCenter of Tropical Medicine, University of BrasiliaAbstract Background Malaria is infectious disease with low occurrence in Brazil extra-Amazon Region. Despite this, higher lethality is observed in this region compared to the country's endemic area. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse factors associated with malaria hospitalizations (severe malaria) in the extra-Amazon Region, in order to prevent deaths. Methods A case–control design was used, utilizing data from the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) and hospitalization records from the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS) from 2011 to 2019. Cases comprised hospitalized malaria patients, while controls included reported malaria notifications without hospitalization. Probabilistic record linkage techniques were employed, and associations were analysed using multiple logistic regression with a 0.05 significance level. Results The main risk factors identified were: Black or mixed-race ethnicity (OR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04–1.43), low education (elementary school OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.78–2.75 or high school OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.39–2.13), infection outside the extra-Amazon Region (Amazon Region OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.15–1.96 or abroad OR = 1.72; 95% CI 1.28–2.32), high parasite count (501 to 10,000/mm3 OR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.27–1.80, 10,001 to 100,000/mm3 OR = 1.77; 95% CI 2.87–1.96 or higher than 100,000/mm3 OR = 3.15; 95% CI 2.20–4.50) and delayed treatment (after 3–7 days symptoms onset OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.36–2.24 or 8 days or more OR = 2.08; 95% CI 1.62–2.66). Active case detection was a protective factor (OR = 0.65; 95% CI 0.54–0.78). Conclusions Delayed treatment remains a key factor in the occurrence of severe malaria, leading to high parasitaemia and revealing inequalities in access to healthcare based on socioeconomic differences. Travel to the Amazon Region or other countries also poses a challenge, requiring strengthened traveller health strategies and increased surveillance awareness to promptly suspect and identify cases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05357-yMalariaSevere malariaHospitalizationsHospital admissionsExtra-Amazon RegionEpidemiological surveillance
spellingShingle Anderson Coutinho da Silva
Elisabeth Carmem Duarte
Paola Barbosa Marchesini
Giselle Maria Rachid Viana
Walter Massa Ramalho
Klauss K. S. Garcia
Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
Malaria Journal
Malaria
Severe malaria
Hospitalizations
Hospital admissions
Extra-Amazon Region
Epidemiological surveillance
title Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
title_full Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
title_fullStr Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
title_short Factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non-endemic Brazilian region: a case–control study in the extra-Amazon Region from 2011 to 2019
title_sort factors associated with hospitalizations due to severe malaria in the non endemic brazilian region a case control study in the extra amazon region from 2011 to 2019
topic Malaria
Severe malaria
Hospitalizations
Hospital admissions
Extra-Amazon Region
Epidemiological surveillance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05357-y
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