Space-time patterns and associated factors of leishmaniasis in Colombia, 2008-2016.

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the space-time aspects and epidemiological characteristics of leishmaniasis in Colombia from 2008 to 2016.

Methodology: This was an cross-sectional and ecological study of the morbidity and mortality from leishmaniasis and its spatial, temporal, and socio-demographic associated factors based on reported cases of ACL and VL obtained from the National Public Health Surveillance System (Sivigila) of the Ministry of Health of Colombia.

Results: In all, 99,503 cases of leishmaniasis were reported in Colombia in the 9-year period (2008-2016), where ACL accounted for 99.78% of the cases, with 14 deaths, and VL accounted for 0.21% of the cases, with four deaths. People living in the rural areas were the most affected by both forms of leishmaniasis. In the spatial analysis, ACL was widely distributed in Colombian territory, but the patterns of occurrence were not consistent throughout the study period. Further, the majority of the population affec-ted by VL resided in the Caribbean and Central regions, during the second three-year study period, indicating dispersion of the disease.

Conclusions: The recent epidemiological patterns of leishmaniasis show variations in morbidity and mortality, with a higher incidence of ACL than of VL and high concentration of cases in certain regions of Colombia. This study contributes to a better unders-tanding of this important public health problem so that measures to control the spread of this disease in Colombia can be intensified.