ASTHMA EPIDEMIOLOGY IN BRAZIL: DATA ANALYSIS FROM 2019 to 2023

Abstract

Asthma, one of the most prevalent respiratory diseases in the world, affects 1 in 12 children and around 20 million people in Brazil. Responsible for approximately 350,000 hospitalizations annually, asthma is the third biggest cause of hospitalization in the Unified Health System (SUS). It is characterized by reversible bronchoconstriction, triggered by inflammation in the airways and caused by factors such as allergens and infections. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology of asthma in Brazil between 2019 and 2023, focusing on hospital data from the SUS, addressing regional, age and racial aspects of hospitalizations and deaths. An increase in hospitalizations was observed, especially in the Northeast Region, and marked disparities in the distribution of hospitalizations, highlighting the importance of public health policies that prioritize equity and asthma prevention in different age groups and regional contexts.