[Burden of hospitalizations attributable to malaria in Spain during 1999-2002]

To calculate the incidence rates and direct costs, and to describe hospital admissions for malaria in Spain between 1999 and 2002.

Retrospective study of hospital admissions whose fundamental discharge diagnosis was malaria (codes CIE-9 from 084.0 to 084.9), using the national surveillance system for hospital data (CMBD) between 1999 and 2002.

2,044 hospitalizations for malaria were recorded in Spain (incidence rate 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants/year). 20.6% were children under the age of 15. We found an increasing linear trend in the incidence rate of malaria in the 0-4 age group (p < 0.001). 57.3% of malaria cases were due to Plasmodium falciparum, 11.5% to P. vivax, 2.4% to P. malariae and 3.3% to P. ovale. On the other hand, 64% of admissions occurred between summer and autumn, a seasonal pattern attributable to P. falciparum. The annual cost of the hospitalizations was euro 1.2 million.

There is an increasing number of hospitalizations in Spain due to malaria, which might be higher in coming years. This fact mainly owes to the population movements we are currently experiencing.