Analysis of the impact of coronavirus disease 19 on hospitalization rates for chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted health services and healthcare systems worldwide. Studies have shown that hospital admissions for causes related to chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have decreased significantly during peak pandemic periods. An analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for NCDs is essential to implement disability and mortality mitigation strategies for these groups. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital admissions for NCDs in Brazil according to the type of NCD, sex, age group, and region of Brazil. Methods This is an ecological study conducted in Brazil. Data on hospital admissions from January 1, 2017 to May 31, 2021 were extracted from the Unified Health System’s Hospital Admissions Information System. The hospital admission rates per 100,000 thousand inhabitants were calculated monthly according to the type of NCD, sex, age group, and region of Brazil. Poisson regression models were used to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of hospital admissions. In this study, the pre-pandemic period was set from January 1, 2017 to February 29, 2020 and the during-pandemic from March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Results There was a 27.0% (95.0%CI: -29.0; -25.0%) decrease in hospital admissions for NCDs after the onset of the pandemic compared to that during the pre-pandemic period. Decreases were found for all types of NCDs—cancer (-23.0%; 95.0%CI: -26.0; -21.0%), diabetes mellitus (-24.0%; 95.0%CI: -25.0%; -22.0%), cardiovascular diseases (-30.0%; 95.0%CI: -31.0%; -28.0%), and chronic respiratory diseases (-29.0%; 95.0%CI: -30.0%; -27.0%). In addition, there was a decrease in the number of admissions, regardless of the age group, sex, and region of Brazil. The Northern and Southern regions demonstrated the largest decrease in the percentage of hospital admissions during the pandemic period. Conclusions There was a decrease in the hospitalization rate for NCDs in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic in a scenario of social distancing measures and overload of health services.

Assessment of potential transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy cases in the Brazilian public health system using a Machine Learning Model

“…Moreover, reductions in hospitalization rates might occur due to several factors (34). In 2020 and 2021, however, these factors were compounded by the effect of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (34). In Brazil, the entire healthcare system was impacted, not only by the demand for care of COVID-19 cases, but also by the isolation and social distancing measures that compromised people’s access to healthcare services (34).…”

“…In 2020 and 2021, however, these factors were compounded by the effect of the pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus (34). In Brazil, the entire healthcare system was impacted, not only by the demand for care of COVID-19 cases, but also by the isolation and social distancing measures that compromised people’s access to healthcare services (34). In this study, we identified a reduction in hospitalization rates for both wtATTR-CM and hATTR-CM cohorts, probably related to the isolation and social distancing arising from COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency outpatient consultations and admissions of non-COVID-19 patients (ECCO)—A cross-sectional study

“…The weekly number of admissions and consultations, in the pandemic and pre-pandemic groups, was estimated using a negative binomial regression model, in line with other studies [11][12][13][14][15][16]. To adjust for the two pandemic waves, in spring and fall/winter, we used a three-basis spline model with an interaction term with the pandemic and pre-pandemic group.…”

Opportunistic non‐communicable diseases in times of COVID‐19

“…From Brazil, Guimarães et al . [12] reported a 27% drop in hospital admissions for NCDs after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, from Italy, Caminiti et al .…”

“…Ayele et al [11] reported from North Western Ethiopia that poor treatment control increased significantly in ambulatory patients with hypertension and diabetes from around 25% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic to 35% 4 months following the date of the first COVID-19 case detection. From Brazil, Guimarães et al [12] reported a 27% drop in hospital admissions for NCDs after the onset of the pandemic. Similarly, from Italy, Caminiti et al [13] reported that admissions for NCDs dropped by approximately one third during the COVID-19.…”