[Regional differences in access to coronary bypass surgery in Brazil, 2002-2010]

The hospitalization rates for angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery have been used as proxies for access to highly specialized services. The scope of this study is to analyze the evolution of these rates and discuss what are the possible causes associated with regional inequalities. Standardized rates of angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery by age and sex per 100,000 inhabitants aged 20 and over, in the period from 2002 to 2010 were calculated. Comparison with international data shows that Brazil has lower rates than those observed in OECD countries. In Brazil, the standardized rates of hospitalization for angioplasty in the population aged 20 and over showed an upward trend, rising from 27.5 per 100,000 in 2002 to 39 in 2010. When mortality rates by age and sex from different geographical regions were compared, besides the marked differences in the north - south axis, what is notable is the maintenance of a stable pattern of these rates and regional differences over the period analyzed. The definition of regional health care networks for cardiac surgery is an important strategy to ensure the quality of care, optimization of operating costs and reduction of inequalities in access to healthcare between Brazilian regions.