SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC INEQUALITIES IN HOSPITAL MORTALITY FROM ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE IN BRAZIL ACCORDING TO SEX, RACE/SKIN COLOR, AND AGE GROUP DURING THE PERIOD FROM 2016 TO 2025

Abstract

Objective: To analyze sociodemographic inequalities in hospital mortality due to Alzheimer’s disease in Brazil according to sex, race/skin color, and age group from 2016 to 2025. Methods: This ecological, descriptive time-series study used secondary aggregated data from the Brazilian Unified Health System Hospital Information System. Hospital mortality rates associated with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, corresponding to ICD-10 code G30, were analyzed among individuals aged 60 years or older. Results: The overall mortality rate for the period was 23.17%, increasing from 15.10% in 2016 to 27.94% in 2025. Individuals aged 80 years or older had the highest rate (26.41%), followed by those aged 70–79 years (18.82%) and 60–69 years (15.50%). Black individuals had the highest rate (32.90%), followed by White (26.24%) and Brown (20.37%) individuals, with a peak of 46.88% among Black individuals in 2023. Rates were similar between men (23.41%) and women (23.03%); however, in 2025, the female rate reached 29.28%, compared with 25.60% among men. Conclusion: Relevant inequalities were observed according to age and race/skin color, with higher hospital mortality among the oldest and Black individuals, in addition to temporal variation according to sex.