Epidemiology of dengue in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in 2023: regional analysis and clinical outcomes

Introduction: Dengue is one of the most significant viral diseases in the national landscape and constitutes a serious public health problem. Aim: To analyze the incidence and outcomes of dengue cases by macro-regions and Health Coordinators in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in 2023. Outlining: An observational ecological study examining the epidemiological scenario of dengue across the macro-regions and Regional Health Coordinators (RHC) of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in 2023. Data collection was conducted through the State Health Surveillance Center portal and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Results: RS experienced an infestation situation, with 88.9% of cases being autochthonous and 54 deaths recorded. The most prevalent cases were among individuals aged 20 to 59 years (62%), females (53.2%), and deaths were concentrated in those over 60 years old (70.37%). The highest concentration of cases occurred in the Centro-Oeste and Missioneira regions, particularly in the 4th and 17th RHCs. The Serra region recorded the highest lethality rate (0.5%), while the Missioneira region reported the highest number of deaths (n = 16). Implications: This study provides an overview of the epidemiological scenario of dengue in Rio Grande do Sul and can serve as a basis for developing public policies aimed at controlling the disease.