Time Analysis of Hospital Costs for Respiratory Diseases in Brazil, 1998-2021

Abstract

Background: Respiratory diseases (RD) affect individuals of all age groups, negatively impacting patients' quality of life and incurring significant costs to healthcare services. If not managed properly, they can also lead to mortality. Information provided by DATASUS on RD can be utilized to facilitate professional decision-making, set targets for approach and treatment, and support the creation of public policies aimed at this population. Objective: To assess the financial costs of hospital admissions in the Brazilian population caused by respiratory diseases from 1998 to 2021. Methods: This is a descriptive, longitudinal, and quantitative study, with data properly recorded in the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), regarding the costs generated by respiratory diseases in Brazil, including individuals aged 0 to 80 years. The data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software version 5.0, and the significance level was set at 5%. Results: A total of 34,749,023 hospital admissions were observed, representing a total cost of R$23,653,000,000.00 and an average cost of R$760.62 per hospital admission during the study period. The age group between 20 and 80 years showed the highest indices related to the number of admissions. Regarding the list of morbidities, pneumonia presented the highest costs to the public health system (R$11,415,000,000.00 - 48.3%). The Southeast region showed the highest financial support (R$9,192,000,000.00), the highest number of deaths (n= 907434 - 49%), and the highest average hospital stay (5.9 days). Conclusion: Respiratory diseases, in addition to representing a public health problem, have a significant financial impact on the SUS. It is essential to prioritize strategy plans and actions to combat these diseases, especially pneumonia, targeting the male population and the Southeast region, aiming to reduce inequalities in public health.