Changes in morbimortality patterns due to heart failure in patients of the Unified Health System and their economic impacts: a challenge for Public Health management

Abstract

AbstractA descriptive ecological study was conducted to form a profile of morbimortality due to cardiac care in the Brazilian population based on patients registered in the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). The results of the article show that, during the studied period, 2,984,424 patients were hospitalized due to cardiac care, predominantly represented by males, with the age group predominating in elderly individuals between 70 and 79 years old, of white ethnicity, and with a character of emergency care. The average hospitalization cost was estimated at R$ 1,371.67, generating an annual cost to the Brazilian economy of R$ 341,137,000.SummaryBackgroundHeart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome considered the common endpoint of various cardiovascular diseases, and due to its high prevalence, it is necessary to understand its morbidity and mortality profile.ObjectiveTo describe the morbidity and mortality profile of HF among patients registered in the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) and its impact on public health between 2008 and 2020.Materials and MethodsA descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using data obtained from the TABNET application developed by DATASUS. Patients of both sexes, without age restrictions, who were hospitalized with a confirmed diagnosis of HF in Brazil, from January 2008 to December 2020 were included. Data were stratified by sex, age group, self-reported ethnicity/race, type of healthcare plan, and nature of care.ResultsDuring the study period, 2,984,424 patients were hospitalized due to HF in the SUS. The majority were male: 1,533,469 (51.38%); elderly with the predominant age group between 70 and 79 years: 788,367 (26.41%); of white ethnicity: 1,102,860 (36.95%); private healthcare plan: 1,196,559 (46.10%), and with emergency care character: 2,827,354 (94.73%). The average hospitalization cost was estimated at R$ 1,371.67, generating an annual cost to the Brazilian economy of R$ 341,137,000.ConclusionsHeart failure is an important public health problem, causing not only high morbidity in affected individuals but also a significant financial burden on the Unified Health System (SUS).