Enseñanzas para enfrentar la pandemia por Coronavirus basadas en el perfil epidemiológico de los egresos hospitalarios por neumonía e influenza en Ecuador 2016-2018

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on January 30, 2020, the spread of the new coronavirus (SARSCoV-2) as a public health emergency of international concern. Objective: To describe the incidence of severe morbidity from pneumonia and influenza, mortality, lethality, behavior by time, place and person, to characterize the probable the behavior of the epidemic by COVID-19 in Ecuador and make recommendations. Methodology: A descriptive, retrospective study of cases of secondary source was carried out. The databases of hospital discharges and population projections of the National Institute of Statistic and Census (INEC) of 2016-2018. Incidence rate, severe morbidity, mortality rate and case fatality rate were calculated. To value the differences between the altitude levels ANOVA Kruskal Wallis was used (value of p <0.05). Results: The number of hospital discharges for pneumonia and influenza were 128.181. The annual incidence rate of pneumonia and influenza was 254,6 cases per 100.000 inhabitants. The highest incidence rates were for bacterial causes, followed by undefined and viral causes. Pneumonia and influenza presented a higher risk of severe morbidity (hospital discharges) and mortality in men. The groups with the highest risk of morbidity and mortality were children under 9 years and seniors over 70. The risk of morbidity and mortality was higher in mestizos and people of the urban area. Conclussions: Morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 will add to the current incidence of pneumonia if preventive and control measures are not taken. In order to reduce mortality and serious cases, it is necessary that the protocols for medical care and isolation prioritize the groups at higher risk (people who live at more than 3.000 meters above sea level, mestizos from marginal urban areas, indigenous people, and adult men with risk factors).