EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED VIRAL HEPATITIS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN BRAZIL BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023

Abstract

Viral hepatitis remains an important public health problem, mainly due to chronic complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent decades, population aging and the maintenance of sexual activity in older adults have changed the epidemiological profile of these infections, highlighting the relevance of sexual transmission among older individuals. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological profile of sexually transmitted viral hepatitis among older adults in Brazil between 2013 and 2023. A retrospective, descriptive, observational epidemiological study with a quantitative approach was conducted using secondary data obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), available through DATASUS. The variables analyzed included sex, age group, race/skin color, geographic region, year of diagnosis, and probable route of infection. During the study period, 79,458 confirmed cases of viral hepatitis were recorded among individuals aged 60 years or older, with predominance among males, individuals aged 60–64 years, and residents of the Southeast and South regions. Cases related to sexual transmission showed an increasing trend until 2019, followed by a reduction in 2020 and gradual recovery in the following years. The findings indicate that sexual transmission remains an important route of infection among older adults, reinforcing the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, expand screening strategies, promote preventive measures, and develop health education policies specifically targeting this population.