Patients in insulin analogues use via judicial litigation: do they use the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS)?

Background: Studies show that among the drugs most commonly used in judicial litigation in Brazil, are those used to treat diabetes mellitus, especially insulin analogues.

Objective: Evaluate the use of the Unified Health System (SUS) by patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), who receive insulin analogues through judicial action, before and after this process. 

Method: In a retrospective longitudinal observational study, secondary data was used from these patients in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2018. Socio-demographic information was collected and related to the follow-up of these patients in the SUS. The McNemar χ2 test was used to compare the proportions of the variables.

Results: Of the 89 patients analyzed, women (53.9%) were predominant. Most patients were aged between 20 and 39 years (52.8%), and more than half, 55.1%, use only a private health system. After the judicial action, there was a significant increase (p <0.05) in the number of patients who had consultations in primary health care (from 19.1% to 30.3%) and emergency medical appointments (from 1.1% to 9.0%). 

Conclusion: It is observed that the majority of patients with T1DM via judicial action in the SUS are not monitored by this health system through examinations, consultations, and hospitalizations.