EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR INTRACRANIAL TRAUMA IN PARAÍBA: AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the epidemiological profile of hospitalizations for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the state of Paraíba in the year 2022, aiming to identify factors associated with mortality. METHODOLOGY: Ecological study based on the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SUS), which included Hospital Admission Authorizations in Paraíba in 2022, with the main diagnosis of ICD-10 "S06 - Traumatic Brain Injury" and its subdivisions, collected through the Microdatasus package in an R environment. Bivariate analyses were conducted using the Pearson chi-square test (p<0.05). RESULTS: There were 1,306 hospitalizations for TBI in Paraíba, with higher incidences in individuals over 60 years old (15.6 cases/1,000,000 inhabitants), males (11.0 cases/1,000,000 inhabitants), and people of mixed race (15.0 cases/1,000,000 inhabitants). Traumatic Cerebral Edema accounted for most hospitalizations (15.3%), while Conservative Treatment of Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury was the most frequent procedure (36.4%). The majority were admitted to clinical beds (53.6%), on an emergency basis (98.6%), with a stay of up to 10 days (79.3%), and a mortality rate of 12.1%. Age group (p<0.005) and procedure (p<0.002) were associated with mortality. Conservative Treatment of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury presented a 11.9 times higher risk of mortality (OR: 11.9; 95% CI: 7.9-18.0) compared to all other procedures, and elderly patients had a 2.0 times higher risk of mortality (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.4-3.1) compared to adult patients. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of preventive interventions targeted at the elderly population to reduce mortality rates from traumatic brain injury is highlighted. These measures not only benefit the population but also reduce the costs of public health and the demand for emergency treatments in hospitals.