The role of Brazilian National Health Information Systems in assessing the impact of Zika virus outbreak

Abstract

The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic has become a public health emergency following its association with severe neurological complications. We aim to discuss how the Brazilian National Health Information Systems can help to assess the impact of the ZIKV epidemic on health outcomes potentially related to ZIKV. Health outcomes potentially related to ZIKV infection were described based on a literature review of published studies on ZIKV infection outcomes and on recent protocols developed and published by the Brazilian Ministry of Health for different stages of the life cycle. These outcomes were correlated with the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) classification system, as this is the diagnostic classification registered in the Health Information System. A suggested list of 50 clinical manifestations, dispersed into 4 ICD chapters, and their information sources was created to help monitor the ZIKV epidemics and trends. Correlation of these selected ICD-10 codes and the HIS, as well as, a review of the potentialities and limitations of health information systems were performed. The potential of the Health Information System and its underutilization by stakeholders and researchers have been a barrier in diagnosing and reporting ZIKV infection and its complications. The ZIKV outbreak is still a challenge for health practice and the Brazilian Health Information System.

Impact evaluation of Zika epidemic on congenital anomalies registration in Brazil: An interrupted time series analysis

“…We divided our outcome in two categories:1) the rate of congenital malformation of the brain and eye coded as Q00-Q04 and Q10-Q15 in (ICD-10) per 10.000; 2) the rate of congenital malformation not related to the brain or eye, coded as Q05-Q07, Q16-Q18, Q20-Q28, Q30-Q34, Q35-Q37, Q38-Q45, Q50-Q56, Q60-Q64, Q65-Q79, Q80-Q89, Q90-Q99 in ICD-10 per 10,000. We separated the outcomes in these two categories because after the identification of Zika related abnormalities, the first group of ICD-10 codes were potentially related to ZIKV and its complications[18].…”

Proposta de análise integrada de emergências em saúde pública por arboviroses: o caso do Zika vírus no Brasil

“…Tem-se apontado a relevância dos Sistemas de Informação em Saúde (SIS) na garantia da acessibilidade dos dados, em apoio às políticas públicas, devendo-se enfatizar a adoção de estratégias de proteção, monitoramento e segurança dos dados 61 . Por outro lado, a subutilização dos SIS tem-se expressado como barreira para enfrentamento dessa e de outras arboviroses 62 .…”

Proposal for integrated analysis of public health emergencies involving arboviruses: the case of the Zika virus in Brazil

“…The relevance of Health Information Systems (HIS) has been emphasized to guarantee data access to support public policies, with special emphasis on strategies for data protection, monitoring, safety, and security 61 . Meanwhile, underutilization of HIS has been a barrier to confronting Zika and other arboviral infections 62 .…”