Severe acute respiratory infection surveillance in Brazil: the role of public, private and philanthropic healthcare units

Abstract

Abstract Epidemiological surveillance and notification of respiratory infections are important for management and control of epidemics and pandemics. Fact-based decisions, like social distancing policies and preparation of hospital beds, are taken based on several factors, including case numbers; hence, health authorities need quick access to reliable and well-analysed data. We aimed to analyse the role of the Brazilian public health system in the notification and hospitalization of patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Data of SARI cases in Brazil (2013–20) were obtained from SIVEP-Gripe platform, and legal status of each healthcare unit (HCU) responsible for case notification and hospitalization was obtained from the National Registry of Health Facilities (CNES) database. HCUs that are part of the hospital network were classified as ‘Public Administration’, ‘Business Entities’, ‘Philanthropic Entities’ or ‘Individuals’. SARI notification data from Brazilian macro-regions (North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and South) were analysed and compared between administrative spheres. This study reveals that hospitalizations due to SARI increased significantly in Brazil during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, especially in HCUs of Public Administration. In the Southeast and South, where incidence of SARI is high, philanthropic HCUs also contribute to hospitalization of SARI cases and attend up to 7.4% of the cases notified by the Public Administration. The number of cases is usually lower in other regions, but in 2020 the Northeast showed more hospitalizations than the South. In the South, SARI season occurs later; however, in 2020, an early peak was observed because of COVID-19. Notably, the contribution of each administrative sphere that manages hospital networks in Brazil in the control and management of SARI varies between regions. Our approach will allow managers to assess the use of public resources, given that there are different profiles of healthcare in each region of Brazil and that the public health system has a major role in notifying and attending SARI cases.