EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR PNEUMONIA IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION OF BRAZIL: TRENDS BETWEEN 2013 AND 2023

Abstract

Pneumonia is a multifactorial alveolar infection with a wide range of clinical manifestations. This study aims to analyze the epidemiological pattern of hospitalizations due to pneumonia in the Southeast Region of Brazil between 2013 and 2023. This is a descriptive, retrospective, quantitative study that used secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), provided by the Department of Informatics of SUS (DATASUS), evaluating the number of pneumonia cases from 2013 to 2023. The data were organized and tabulated in spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel® software and compared with relevant literature. A 10% reduction in hospitalizations was observed between 2020 and 2021, with an overall decrease of nearly 40% compared to the pre-pandemic period, with São Paulo being the state with the highest number of cases. At the beginning of the pandemic, hospitalization costs increased by approximately 20%, with a continued upward trend in the following years. Regarding age groups, children under 1 year showed the greatest reduction in hospitalizations, with a 67.5% drop during the pandemic, followed by an increase after the resumption of school and social activities. Hospitalizations due to pneumonia were more prevalent among individuals who self-identified as white (42.92%) and brown (30.43%), and regardless of ethnicity, men accounted for a higher proportion of cases (52.64%) compared to women (47.36%). The mortality rate peaked in 2020 (16.45%), mainly among children aged 1 to 4 years and the elderly over 80 years. The present study is limited by the exclusion of incomplete records and the reliance on secondary data. However, it highlights relevant gaps, such as the need for more effective strategies for the prevention and management of pneumonia in at-risk populations.