HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION IN THE STATE OF ALAGOAS: A PRIMARY CARE-SENSITIVE CONDITION

Abstract

This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile and expenditures of hospitalizations for arterial hypertension in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, from 2016 to 2025. This is an ecological, descriptive study using data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) on hospitalizations for essential hypertension (ICD-10 I10) and population estimates from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Sex, age group, type of admission, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, death, Health Region, hospitalization rate per 10,000 inhabitants and hospital expenditures adjusted by the IPCA were analyzed using descriptive statistics. A total of 4,507 hospitalizations were recorded; the annual number fell from 695 in 2016 to 250 in 2025, and the rate from 2.18 to 0.78 per 10,000 inhabitants (a 64.4% reduction). Females (67.1%), people aged 60 years or older (47.7%), emergency admissions (91.9%) and stays of up to three days (41.8%) predominated; 5.7% of hospitalizations involved ICU care and 2.8% resulted in death. The 1st Health Region accounted for 30.6% of hospitalizations, and the 5th Health Region had the highest mean rate. Total annual expenditure decreased from BRL 391,173.91 to BRL 165,658.59, while mean expenditure per hospitalization increased from BRL 562.84 to BRL 662.63. Hospitalizations for hypertension decreased over the period, but differences between Health Regions and the predominance of emergency admissions among older adults persisted, reinforcing the importance of continuous follow-up in Primary Health Care.