CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS TREATED AT A GASTROENTEROLOGY SERVICE OF A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Abstract

Background: Gastrointestinal diseases constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in regions characterized by social inequalities, geographical barriers and limited access to specialized healthcare. In the Brazilian Amazon, these factors contribute to delayed diagnosis and advanced clinical presentation. Objective: To characterize the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients treated at the Diagnostic Imaging Unit of the Gastroenterology Service of the Hospital Universitário Getúlio Vargas, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Methods: Observational, descriptive and exploratory study based on secondary data from 237 medical records collected between 2019 and 2020. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and territorial variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics integrated with an interpretative epidemiological approach. Results: Most patients were male, aged 50 years or older, had low educational level and originated from municipalities in the interior of Amazonas. Chronic gastritis, esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis were the most prevalent diagnoses, frequently associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic liver diseases. The findings indicate a predominance of advanced clinical conditions requiring specialized tertiary care.  Conclusions: The observed epidemiological profile reflects both the burden of gastrointestinal diseases and structural inequalities affecting healthcare access in the Amazon region. Strengthening primary healthcare, expanding regional diagnostic capacity and adopting territorially oriented public policies are essential to reduce health inequities.