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Introduction: Vaccines are essential for the prevention and control of several diseases, indeed, monitoring the immune response generated by vaccines is crucial. The immune response generated by vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is not well defined regarding to the intensity and medium to long-term duration of a protective immune response, which may point out the need of booster doses and might support the decisions in public health. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in a two-dose primary protocol in children and adolescent aging from 3 to 17 years old in Brazil. Methods: Participants were invited to participate in the research at two public healthcare centers located in Serrana (São Paulo) and Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais), Brazil. Participants underwent medical interviews to gather their medical history, including COVID-19 history and medical records. Physical exams were conducted, including weight, blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate measurements. Blood samples were obtained from the participants before vaccination, 1 month after the first dose, and 1, 3, and 6 months after the second dose and were followed by a virtual platform for monitoring post-vaccination reactions and symptoms of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 genome from Swab samples of COVID-19 positive individuals were sequenced by NGS. Total antibodies were measured by ELISA and neutralizing antibodies to B.1 lineage and Omicron variant (BA.1) quantified by PRNT and VNT. The cellular immune response was evaluated by flow cytometry by the quantification of systemic soluble immune mediators. Results: The follow-up of 640 participants showed that the CoronaVac vaccine (Sinovac/Butantan Institute) was able to significantly induce the production of total IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the production of neutralizing antibodies to B.1 lineage and Omicron variant. In addition, a robust cellular immune response was observed with wide release of pro-inflammatory and regulatory mediators in the early post-immunization moments. Adverse events recorded so far have been mild and transient except for seven serious adverse events reported on VigiMed. Conclusions: The results indicate a robust and sustained immune response induced by the CoronaVac vaccine in children and adolescents up to six months, providing evidences to support the safety and immunogenicity of this effective immunizer.

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The purpose of this article is to quantify the amount of misclassification of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) mortality occurring in hospitals and other health facilities in selected cities in Brazil, discuss potential factors contributing to this misclassification, and consider the implications for vital statistics. Hospital deaths assigned to causes classified as garbage code (GC) COVID-related cases (severe acute respiratory syndrome, pneumonia unspecified, sepsis, respiratory failure and ill-defined causes) were selected in three Brazilian state capitals. Data from medical charts and forensic reports were extracted from standard forms and analyzed by study physicians who re-assigned the underlying cause based on standardized criteria. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed and the potential impact in vital statistics in the country was also evaluated. Among 1,365 investigated deaths due to GC-COVID-related causes, COVID-19 was detected in 17.3% in the age group 0-59 years and 25.5% deaths in 60 years and over. These GCs rose substantially in 2020 in the country and were responsible for 211,611 registered deaths. Applying observed proportions by age, location and specific GC-COVID-related cause to national data, there would be an increase of 37,163 cases in the total of COVID-19 deaths, higher in the elderly. In conclusion, important undercount of deaths from COVID-19 among GC-COVID-related causes was detected in three selected capitals of Brazil. After extrapolating the study results for national GC-COVID-related deaths we infer that the burden of COVID-19 disease in Brazil in official vital statistics was probably under estimated by at least 18% in the country in 2020.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic according to social vulnerability by areas of Belo Horizonte (BH), aiming at strategies for vaccination. METHODS: Ecological study with mortality analysis according to census tracts classified by the Health Vulnerability Index, a composite indicator that includes socioeconomic and sanitation variables. Deaths by natural causes and by COVID-19 were obtained from the "Mortality Information System", between the 10th and 43rd epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2020. Excess mortality was calculated in a time series model, considering observed and expected deaths per EW, between 2015 and 2019, per census tracts. Mortality rates (MR) were calculated and age-standardized using population estimates from the 2010 census, by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). RESULTS: Excess mortality in BH was 16.1% (n = 1,524): 11, 18.8 and 17.3% in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. The differences between observed and expected age-standardized MR by natural causes were equal to 59/100,000 inhabitants in BH, increasing from 31 to 77 and 95/100,000 inhabitants in the areas of low, intermediate and high vulnerability, respectively. There was an aging gradient in MR by COVID-19, ranging from 4 to 611/100,000 inhabitants among individuals aged 20-39 years and 75+ years. The COVID-19 MR per 100,000 older adults (60+ years) was 292 in BH, increasing from 179 to 354 and 476, in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. CONCLUSION: Inequalities in mortality, particularly among older adults, combined with the limited supply of doses, demonstrate the importance of prioritizing socially vulnerable areas during vaccination against COVID-19.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mortalidade por áreas de Belo Horizonte (BH) durante a pandemia de COVID-19 conforme a vulnerabilidade social, visando a uma estratégia de vacinação. MÉTODOS: Estudo ecológico com análise de mortalidade, segundo setores censitários classificados pelo índice de vulnerabilidade da saúde, composto de indicadores de saneamento e socioeconômicos. Óbitos por causas naturais e COVID-19 foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade, entre a 10ª e a 43ª semanas epidemiológicas (SE) de 2020. Calculou-se o excesso de mortalidade por modelo de série temporal, considerando-se as mortes observadas por SE entre 2015 e 2019, por setor censitário. Taxas de mortalidade (TM) foram calculadas e padronizadas por idade com base em estimativas populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). RESULTADOS: Houve 16,1% (n = 1.524) de excesso de mortalidade em BH: 11, 18,8 e 17,3% nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. As diferenças entre TM observadas e esperadas por causas naturais, padronizadas por idade, foi igual a 59/100 mil habitantes em BH, aumentando de 31 para 77 e 95/100 mil, nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Houve gradiente de aumento com a idade nas TM por COVID-19, variando de 4 a 611/100 mil habitantes entre as idades de 20-39 anos e 75+ anos. A TM por COVID-19 por 100 mil idosos (60+ anos) foi igual a 292, aumentando de 179 para 354 e 476 nos setores de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Desigualdades na mortalidade, mesmo entre idosos, aliadas à baixa oferta de doses, demonstram a importância de priorizar áreas socialmente vulneráveis durante a vacinação contra COVID-19.

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RESUMO: Objetivo: Avaliar a mortalidade por áreas de Belo Horizonte (BH) durante a pandemia de COVID-19 conforme a vulnerabilidade social, visando a uma estratégia de vacinação. Métodos: Estudo ecológico com análise de mortalidade, segundo setores censitários classificados pelo índice de vulnerabilidade da saúde, composto de indicadores de saneamento e socioeconômicos. Óbitos por causas naturais e COVID-19 foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade, entre a 10ª e a 43ª semanas epidemiológicas (SE) de 2020. Calculou-se o excesso de mortalidade por modelo de série temporal, considerando-se as mortes observadas por SE entre 2015 e 2019, por setor censitário. Taxas de mortalidade (TM) foram calculadas e padronizadas por idade com base em estimativas populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Resultados: Houve 16,1% (n = 1.524) de excesso de mortalidade em BH: 11, 18,8 e 17,3% nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. As diferenças entre TM observadas e esperadas por causas naturais, padronizadas por idade, foi igual a 59/100 mil habitantes em BH, aumentando de 31 para 77 e 95/100 mil, nas áreas de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Houve gradiente de aumento com a idade nas TM por COVID-19, variando de 4 a 611/100 mil habitantes entre as idades de 20-39 anos e 75+ anos. A TM por COVID-19 por 100 mil idosos (60+ anos) foi igual a 292, aumentando de 179 para 354 e 476 nos setores de baixa, média e elevada vulnerabilidade, respectivamente. Conclusão: Desigualdades na mortalidade, mesmo entre idosos, aliadas à baixa oferta de doses, demonstram a importância de priorizar áreas socialmente vulneráveis durante a vacinação contra COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To assess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic according to social vulnerability by areas of Belo Horizonte (BH), aiming at strategies for vaccination. Methods: Ecological study with mortality analysis according to census tracts classified by the Health Vulnerability Index, a composite indicator that includes socioeconomic and sanitation variables. Deaths by natural causes and by COVID-19 were obtained from the "Mortality Information System", between the 10th and 43rd epidemiological weeks (EW) of 2020. Excess mortality was calculated in a time series model, considering observed and expected deaths per EW, between 2015 and 2019, per census tracts. Mortality rates (MR) were calculated and age-standardized using population estimates from the 2010 census, by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Results: Excess mortality in BH was 16.1% (n = 1,524): 11, 18.8 and 17.3% in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. The differences between observed and expected age-standardized MR by natural causes were equal to 59/100,000 inhabitants in BH, increasing from 31 to 77 and 95/100,000 inhabitants in the areas of low, intermediate and high vulnerability, respectively. There was an aging gradient in MR by COVID-19, ranging from 4 to 611/100,000 inhabitants among individuals aged 20-39 years and 75+ years. The COVID-19 MR per 100,000 older adults (60+ years) was 292 in BH, increasing from 179 to 354 and 476, in low, intermediate and high vulnerability areas, respectively. Conclusion: Inequalities in mortality, particularly among older adults, combined with the limited supply of doses, demonstrate the importance of prioritizing socially vulnerable areas during vaccination against COVID-19.

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OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the actions carried out by the epidemiological surveillance system in Belo Horizonte to address the COVID-19 epidemic and the timeless of the data for detecting transmission in 2020. METHODS: The sources of information used by the epidemiological surveillance of the municipality for COVID-19 were identified and the temporal distribution and interval for detection of confirmed cases of the disease were analyzed. RESULTS: The city's epidemiological surveillance uses outpatient, hospital, public and private laboratory notifications as data sources. For reporting COVID-19 cases in official information systems, there is also an active search of laboratory results linked to suspected deaths investigated. From January to April 2020, 1,449 hospitalized cases of COVID-19 were reported, the first case being detected in late February 2020. Of the total 1,025 laboratory samples of cases hospitalized after the 8th epidemiological week, 87 (8.5%) of COVID-19 cases were confirmed. The median time between the onset of symptoms and the release of laboratory results was 12 days for the analyzed period. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological surveillance uses several data sources to monitor and analyze the transmission of COVID-19. The timeliness of this system to detect cases of the disease is compromised by the delay in the release of laboratory results, which has been a considerable challenge for adequate surveillance.

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INTRODUCTION: A smartphone application named AtestaDO was developed to support physicians with medical certification of the cause of death. The objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptability of the app. METHODS: Physicians were invited to attend meetings on the proper certification of cause of death, and to evaluate the application in a national workshop in Natal (first stage) and in two large hospitals in Belo Horizonte (second and third stages). RESULTS: In Natal, 82% of 38 physicians had more than 20 years of experience and in Belo Horizonte, more than 67% of 58 physicians had less than 5 years of experience. The sections "Application interface", "How to certify the causes of death", "Practice with exercises" and "Other information for physicians" were positively evaluated by more than 50% of physicians in Belo Horizonte. In Natal, all sections were positively evaluated by at least 80% of participants. More than 70% of the participants in both Natal and the second stage of Belo Horizonte indicated they would possibly use AtestaDO to guide filling of a death certificate. The probability of using AtestaDO to teach classes on filling death certificates was 83.3% for Natal's physicians but less than 60% in Belo Horizonte. In the three stages, most physicians would recommend using the application to other colleagues. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of AtestaDO showed good acceptability. We expect that the use of this tool enables improvements in medical certification of causes of death.

INTRODUÇÃO: O aplicativo para smartphone AtestaDO foi desenvolvido para auxiliar o médico na certificação da causa de morte. Neste estudo se propõe avaliar a aceitabilidade desse aplicativo. MÉTODOS: Médicos foram convidados para participar de reuniões sobre certificação correta da causa da morte e avaliar o aplicativo em três etapas dessas reuniões, realizadas em Natal e em dois grandes hospitais de Belo Horizonte. RESULTADOS: Em Natal, 82% dos 38 médicos participantes tinham mais de 20 anos de graduação, e em Belo Horizonte, mais de 67% dos 58 médicos tinham menos de 5 anos de graduação. As seções "Interface do aplicativo", "Como atestar as causas de morte", "Prática com exercícios" e "Outras informações para o médico" foram bem avaliadas por mais de 50% dos médicos de Belo Horizonte. Em Natal, todas as seções foram bem avaliadas por pelo menos 80% dos médicos. Mais de 70% dos participantes de Natal e da segunda etapa de Belo Horizonte usariam o aplicativo para preencher a causa de morte. A probabilidade de usar o AtestaDO para dar aulas sobre preenchimento da Declaração de Óbito foi de 83% para médicos de Natal, mas inferior a 60% em Belo Horizonte. Nas três etapas, a maioria dos médicos recomendaria o uso do aplicativo para outros colegas. CONCLUSÃO: A avaliação do aplicativo AtestaDO mostrou boa aceitabilidade. Espera-se que o uso dessa ferramenta permita alcançar melhorias na certificação médica da causa do óbito.

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INTRODUCTION: Deaths certified with ill-defined causes or garbage codes (GC) compromise the analysis of mortality and its use for planning and evaluation of public health policies. The hospital investigation of these causes is one of the strategies qualifying the profile of mortality in the country. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the change in the hospital mortality profile after investigation of deaths certified with GC in 2017 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. METHODS: A sample of hospital deaths reported with GC in the Mortality Information System (SIM) of Belo Horizonte in 2017 was investigated and subsequently certified by a physician to compare the mortality profile before and after investigation. RESULTS: After investigating 1,395 deaths out of 3,038 reported with GC, a reduction of 35.5% of these causes was observed. Groups of all ages presented decreases in GC occurrence. A higher proportional increase was observed for deaths due to ischemic heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and external causes of death (accidental falls, homicides and traffic/transport accidents). CONCLUSION: The investigation on reported hospital deaths is one of the strategies to improve mortality statistics, reducing the occurrence of GC among reported deaths and changing the mortality profile in these facilities. The importance of continuous physician training in cause-of-death certification is emphasized.

INTRODUÇÃO: Óbitos declarados com causas mal definidas, ou causas garbage (CG), comprometem a análise da mortalidade e sua utilização para planejamento e avaliação de políticas públicas de saúde. A investigação hospitalar destas causas é uma das estratégias para qualificação do perfil de mortalidade no país. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a mudança no perfil de mortalidade hospitalar após investigação de óbitos declarados com CG, em 2017, em Belo Horizonte. MÉTODOS: Tomou-se uma amostra dos óbitos hospitalares notificados com CG no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade de Belo Horizonte em 2017. Posteriormente, os dados foram investigados e analisados por médico, para comparação do perfil de mortalidade antes e depois do processo de investigação. RESULTADOS: Após investigação de 1.395 óbitos, dentre 3.038 declarados com CG, houve redução de 35,5% para estas causas. Todas as faixas etárias apresentaram decremento na ocorrência de CG. Observou-se maior incremento proporcional para os óbitos causados por doenças isquêmicas do coração, doença de Alzheimer, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico e hemorrágico e as mortes por causas externas (quedas acidentais, homicídios e acidentes de trânsito/transporte). CONCLUSÃO: A investigação de óbitos hospitalares notificados é uma das estratégias para aprimorar as estatísticas de mortalidade, reduzindo a ocorrência de CG entre as mortes declaradas e alterando o perfil de mortalidade nestes estabelecimentos. Enfatiza-se a importância de educação permanente de médicos para qualificação das causas de morte.

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RESUMO Introdução: O aplicativo para smartphone AtestaDO foi desenvolvido para auxiliar o médico na certificação da causa de morte. Neste estudo se propõe avaliar a aceitabilidade desse aplicativo. Métodos: Médicos foram convidados para participar de reuniões sobre certificação correta da causa da morte e avaliar o aplicativo em três etapas dessas reuniões, realizadas em Natal e em dois grandes hospitais de Belo Horizonte. Resultados: Em Natal, 82% dos 38 médicos participantes tinham mais de 20 anos de graduação, e em Belo Horizonte, mais de 67% dos 58 médicos tinham menos de 5 anos de graduação. As seções "Interface do aplicativo", "Como atestar as causas de morte", "Prática com exercícios" e "Outras informações para o médico" foram bem avaliadas por mais de 50% dos médicos de Belo Horizonte. Em Natal, todas as seções foram bem avaliadas por pelo menos 80% dos médicos. Mais de 70% dos participantes de Natal e da segunda etapa de Belo Horizonte usariam o aplicativo para preencher a causa de morte. A probabilidade de usar o AtestaDO para dar aulas sobre preenchimento da Declaração de Óbito foi de 83% para médicos de Natal, mas inferior a 60% em Belo Horizonte. Nas três etapas, a maioria dos médicos recomendaria o uso do aplicativo para outros colegas. Conclusão: A avaliação do aplicativo AtestaDO mostrou boa aceitabilidade. Espera-se que o uso dessa ferramenta permita alcançar melhorias na certificação médica da causa do óbito.

ABSTRACT Introduction: A smartphone application named AtestaDO was developed to support physicians with medical certification of the cause of death. The objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptability of the app. Methods: Physicians were invited to attend meetings on the proper certification of cause of death, and to evaluate the application in a national workshop in Natal (first stage) and in two large hospitals in Belo Horizonte (second and third stages). Results: In Natal, 82% of 38 physicians had more than 20 years of experience and in Belo Horizonte, more than 67% of 58 physicians had less than 5 years of experience. The sections "Application interface", "How to certify the causes of death", "Practice with exercises" and "Other information for physicians" were positively evaluated by more than 50% of physicians in Belo Horizonte. In Natal, all sections were positively evaluated by at least 80% of participants. More than 70% of the participants in both Natal and the second stage of Belo Horizonte indicated they would possibly use AtestaDO to guide filling of a death certificate. The probability of using AtestaDO to teach classes on filling death certificates was 83.3% for Natal's physicians but less than 60% in Belo Horizonte. In the three stages, most physicians would recommend using the application to other colleagues. Conclusion: The evaluation of AtestaDO showed good acceptability. We expect that the use of this tool enables improvements in medical certification of causes of death.

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RESUMO Introdução: Óbitos declarados com causas mal definidas, ou causas garbage (CG), comprometem a análise da mortalidade e sua utilização para planejamento e avaliação de políticas públicas de saúde. A investigação hospitalar destas causas é uma das estratégias para qualificação do perfil de mortalidade no país. Objetivo: Avaliar a mudança no perfil de mortalidade hospitalar após investigação de óbitos declarados com CG, em 2017, em Belo Horizonte. Métodos: Tomou-se uma amostra dos óbitos hospitalares notificados com CG no Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade de Belo Horizonte em 2017. Posteriormente, os dados foram investigados e analisados por médico, para comparação do perfil de mortalidade antes e depois do processo de investigação. Resultados: Após investigação de 1.395 óbitos, dentre 3.038 declarados com CG, houve redução de 35,5% para estas causas. Todas as faixas etárias apresentaram decremento na ocorrência de CG. Observou-se maior incremento proporcional para os óbitos causados por doenças isquêmicas do coração, doença de Alzheimer, doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, acidente vascular cerebral isquêmico e hemorrágico e as mortes por causas externas (quedas acidentais, homicídios e acidentes de trânsito/transporte). Conclusão: A investigação de óbitos hospitalares notificados é uma das estratégias para aprimorar as estatísticas de mortalidade, reduzindo a ocorrência de CG entre as mortes declaradas e alterando o perfil de mortalidade nestes estabelecimentos. Enfatiza-se a importância de educação permanente de médicos para qualificação das causas de morte.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Deaths certified with ill-defined causes or garbage codes (GC) compromise the analysis of mortality and its use for planning and evaluation of public health policies. The hospital investigation of these causes is one of the strategies qualifying the profile of mortality in the country. Objective: To evaluate the change in the hospital mortality profile after investigation of deaths certified with GC in 2017 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Methods: A sample of hospital deaths reported with GC in the Mortality Information System (SIM) of Belo Horizonte in 2017 was investigated and subsequently certified by a physician to compare the mortality profile before and after investigation. Results: After investigating 1,395 deaths out of 3,038 reported with GC, a reduction of 35.5% of these causes was observed. Groups of all ages presented decreases in GC occurrence. A higher proportional increase was observed for deaths due to ischemic heart diseases, Alzheimer's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and external causes of death (accidental falls, homicides and traffic/transport accidents). Conclusion: The investigation on reported hospital deaths is one of the strategies to improve mortality statistics, reducing the occurrence of GC among reported deaths and changing the mortality profile in these facilities. The importance of continuous physician training in cause-of-death certification is emphasized.

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Este estudo avalia o sub-registro de dengue hemorrágica (DH) comparando sua ocorrência entre dois Distritos Sanitários (DS) de Belo Horizonte, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil, entre março e junho de 1998. Registros médicos e dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (Sinan) /Ministério da Saúde, referentes aos casos suspeitos de DH acompanhados, clínica e laboratorialmente, na unidade ambulatorial de referência (UAR) implantada no DS Leste, foram comparados aos casos notificados pelas unidades básicas de saúde do DS Noroeste do Município. Entre 201 casos suspeitos de DH com sangramentos espontâneos atendidos na UAR, oito (4 por cento) casos foram classificados como DH Grau II, conforme critério da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). No DS Noroeste, foram notificados, no mesmo período, 545 casos suspeitos de DH com sangramentos espontâneos, sendo esperada a ocorrência de 22 casos de DH Grau II. Apenas um caso de DH foi notificado. Conclui-se que a estratégia de implantação da UAR no DS Leste deve ser adotada pelos demais DS do Município, minimizando o sub-registro e o impacto da doença na população...

This study analyses the underreporting cases of hemorrhagic dengue (HD) comparing its occurrence in two Sanitary Districts (DS) of the Municipality of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between March and June of 1998. Medical records and registers of Notifying Diseases Information System (Sinan)/Ministry of Health, referring to suspect HD assisted at the reference unit (UAR) implemented in the Eastern DS, for clinical and laboratorial follow up, were compared to reported cases of HD by the health units of the Northwestern DS of Belo Horizonte. Two hundred and one assisted at the UAR were classified as suspected cases of dengue with spontaneous hemorrhage, of which eight (4%) were classified as HD Degree II, according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. In the same period, 545 suspected cases of dengue with spontaneous hemorrhage were registered at the Northwestern DS, for which an occurrence of 22 cases of HD Degree II was expected. The results of this study demonstrate that the strategy adopted at the Eastern DS should be adopted in other DSs of the city so to decrease underreporting as the impact of the disease on the population.

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OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre a proporção de imóveis prediais positivos para larvas de Aedes aegypti, por meio do índice de infestação predial, e a taxa de incidência da dengue. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados casos autóctones de dengue e valores de infestação predial verificados nas áreas de abrangência dos distritos sanitários de Belo Horizonte, MG, no período de outubro de 1997 a maio de 2001. Após grupamento dos valores de infestação predial segundo sua distribuição em quartis, as médias das taxas de incidências da dengue (referentes ao mês subseqüente à realização dos levantamentos de infestação predial) foram comparadas pelo teste ANOVA. RESULTADOS: Observou-se uma correlação fraca, porém estatisticamente significativa, entre a taxa de incidência mensal da doença e os valores de infestação predial para os distritos sanitários (r=0,21; p=0,02) e áreas de abrangência (r=0,14; p=0,00) no período analisado. Após grupamento dos valores de infestação predial em quartis, as áreas de abrangência com infestação predial entre 0,46 por cento e 1,32 por cento (2º quartil) apresentaram, em relação às áreas com infestação predial, menor ou igual a 0,45 por cento (1º quartil), taxa de incidência mensal média da doença duas vezes maior. Para as áreas com infestação predial entre 1,33 por cento e 2,76 por cento (3º quartil) e maior ou igual a 2,77 por cento, as taxas de incidências mensais médias foram, respectivamente, cinco e sete vezes maiores em relação às áreas com 0,45 por cento ou menos. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar das conhecidas limitações do índice de infestação predial para estimar a infestação vetorial e predizer a ocorrência de epidemias de dengue, os resultados indicam que maiores índices se associaram a maior risco de transmissão da doença nos distritos sanitários e áreas de abrangência de Belo Horizonte.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between the proportion of buildings positive for Aedes aegypti larvae measured by means of building infestation rate and dengue incidence rate. METHODS: Autochthonous dengue cases were selected and building infestation rates assessed in the coverage areas of health districts in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from October 1997 to May 2001. After grouping building infestation rates according to their distribution in quartiles, mean dengue incidence rates (for the month following the building infestation assessment) were compared using ANOVA. RESULTS: A weak though statistically significant correlation was observed between monthly dengue incidence and building infestation rates for the health districts (r=0.21; p=0.02) and coverage areas (r=0.14; p=0.00) in the study period. After grouping building infestation rates in quartiles, coverage areas of building infestation between 0.46% and 1.32% (second quartile) showed a mean monthly dengue incidence rate twice as high as areas of building infestation lower or equal to 0.45% (first quartile). Areas of building infestation between 1.33% and 2.76% (third quartile) and equal to or higher than 2.77% had a mean monthly dengue incidence rate five and seven times, respectively, higher than those areas showing 0.45% or less. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the well-known limitations of building infestation rates for estimating vector infestation and prediction of dengue epidemics, the study results indicate that higher building infestation rates were associated to a higher risk of disease transmission in the health districts and coverage areas of Belo Horizonte.

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