HOSPITALIZATIONS, MORTALITY, AND HOSPITAL FATALITY RATES DUE TO STROKE IN BRAZIL: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

This ecological study analyzed hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths due to Stroke in Brazil from 2016 to 2024, using data from the Brazilian Unified Health System Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Cases of intracranial hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, and unspecified stroke were included according to ICD-10. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, including absolute frequencies, in-hospital mortality rates, and annual and overall percentage changes across the study period. Spatial analysis was conducted using choropleth maps developed in R software. During the period, hospitalizations increased by 31.5% and in-hospital deaths by 16.0%. In contrast, the in-hospital mortality rate decreased by 11.8%, suggesting proportional improvement in hospital outcomes over time. Regional distribution showed a higher concentration of events in the Southeast and Northeast, while the highest mortality rates were observed in the North and Northeast, highlighting regional inequalities. Differences were also identified by sex and race/skin color, with higher mortality among women, Indigenous individuals, and those with missing race information. These findings underscore the importance of temporal and spatial analyses of stroke-related hospital indicators and reinforce the need for public policies aimed at reducing inequalities in access to and quality of hospital care in Brazil.