EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DRUG POISONING IN THE STATES OF MINAS GERAIS AND SÃO PAULO (2020–2025)

Abstract

Medicines are essential technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. However, the increasing medicalization of life and the irrational use of pharmaceuticals have contributed to a rise in medication-related poisonings, constituting a significant public health issue in Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the temporal trends and epidemiological profile of reported medication-related poisonings in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo between 2020 and 2025. A descriptive, retrospective epidemiological study with a quantitative approach was conducted, utilizing secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). Notifications of medication-related poisonings recorded from 2020 to 2025 were analyzed, taking into account sociodemographic and epidemiological variables, followed by statistical data processing. The results identified the temporal patterns of medication-related poisonings and characterized the epidemiological profile of the reported cases, highlighting vulnerable groups and potential differences between the states analyzed. The findings of this study may inform strategies for pharmacovigilance, the promotion of rational medicine use, and poisoning prevention initiatives.