Temporal trend and epidemiological profile of severe acute respiratory syndromes not associated with Influenza and COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2020-2025

Abstract

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes (SARS) represent a significant public health problem and their epidemiological dynamics have been modified after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed the temporal trend and epidemiological profile of SARS not associated with influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in Santa Catarina between 2020 and 2025. This is an ecological, retrospective, and time-series study based on data from the Strategic Information Center for Health Surveillance of Santa Catarina (CIEGES-SC). Incidence, mortality, case fatality rate, hospitalizations in intensive care units (ICU), distribution by sex, age group, and health macro-region were evaluated. An increase in confirmed cases was observed from 20 in 2020 to 6,706 in 2025, with an increase in incidence from 0.26 to 88.12 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Hospitalizations in ICUs increased from 20.0% to 25.44% of cases, and deaths rose from 1 to 168 during the period. There was a predominance of males and a higher concentration of cases in children under one year old, in addition to significant growth among elderly individuals aged 70 or older. Greater Florianópolis presented the highest number of cases, although a progressive expansion to regions in the interior of the state was observed. It is concluded that there was a significant increase in the incidence, severity, and mortality of SARS not related to influenza and COVID-19 in Santa Catarina, highlighting the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and healthcare planning focused on the most vulnerable groups.