HOSPITAL BURDEN OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES IN BRAZIL: CHARACTERISTICS, TEMPORAL TRENDS, AND ECONOMIC IMPACT, 2014–2024

Abstract

This ecological time-series study aimed to analyze trends in hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Brazil between 2014 and 2024, using SIH/SUS data. During this period, 12,668,699 hospitalizations and 1,078,003 hospital deaths were recorded. Using Prais-Winsten regression, a stationary trend was identified for both hospitalization volume and the average mortality rate of 8.5%. In contrast, there was a statistically significant increase in total expenditures, with an average annual increase of R$ 236.6 million (p=0.015), and in the absolute number of deaths, with an average of 1,985 additional deaths per year (p<0.001). The Southeast region accounted for 43.8% of hospitalizations, while the Northeast recorded the highest mortality rate at 9.1%. Analysis by age group revealed that the highest care volume occurred in seniors aged 80 years or older. The pandemic period (2020–2021) temporarily reduced hospitalization volume but resulted in a peak hospital mortality rate of 10.1% in 2021. In conclusion, although hospitalization volume is stable, the economic impact and absolute mortality have grown significantly. These findings highlight the pressure of population aging and the pandemic on the Brazilian hospital network.