MORBIDITY, COSTS, AND LENGTH OF HOSPITAL STAY FOR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM DISEASES IN BRAZIL, 2008–2024: A TIME SERIES STUDY

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Brazil and represent a significant impact on healthcare costs. Therefore, the objective is to analyze trends in hospitalizations, costs, and length of stay for circulatory system diseases in Brazil from 2008 to 2024, according to Brazilian regions and years. This is an ecological time-series study based on secondary data obtained from information systems on hospital admissions in the country, which includes all hospitalizations occurring in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). Hospitalizations with a primary and/or secondary diagnosis related to Circulatory System Diseases, Chapter IX according to the 10th International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), were selected. The data were analyzed using the Joinpoint Regression Program to obtain linear regression and temporal analysis of the variables. It was found that the hospitalization rate for circulatory system diseases in Brazil varied from 573.28 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants in 2008 to 623.58 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, the highest rate observed during the period. The lowest rate was recorded in 2021, at 480.24 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants, demonstrating the decrease in hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitalization costs, in turn, increased throughout the period, both in Brazil and in its regions. Regarding length of stay, a variation was observed from 3706.36 days of stay per 100,000 inhabitants in 2008, reaching its peak in 2024 at 4010.22 days of stay per 100,000 inhabitants. Hospitalizations reflect social inequalities and weaknesses in the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by Primary Health Care (PHC), whose expanded coverage is associated with a reduction in hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality. It is observed that, despite the reduction in hospitalizations and length of stay during the pandemic period, especially between 2021 and 2022, hospital costs continued to rise throughout the entire period.