Complex chronic conditions in children and adolescents: hospitalizations in Brazil, 2013

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Complex chronic conditions represent a growing burden on healthcare systems globally.
• Understanding hospitalization patterns is crucial for resource allocation and public health interventions.
• Brazil faces unique challenges in managing chronic diseases due to its vast size and regional disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the extent and characteristics of hospitalizations for complex chronic conditions in Brazil.
• To analyze hospitalization rates by region, sex, age, and disease category.
• To identify the primary drivers and demographic factors associated with these hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Brazilian Hospital Information System for the year 2013.
• Classified conditions using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10).
• Calculated hospitalization rates referencing the 2012 population, alongside procedure complexity and mortality data.

Main Results:

• The South region, males, and infants under one year exhibited the highest hospitalization rates.
• Diseases of the respiratory system, neoplasms, and nervous system diseases were the most frequent causes.
• An estimated 240,000 children and adolescents were hospitalized, with an incidence of 331 per 100,000.

Conclusions:

• Hospitalizations for complex chronic conditions constitute an emergent public health issue in Brazil.
• Targeted interventions are needed, especially for high-risk demographics and prevalent disease categories.
• Further research into prevention and management strategies is warranted to alleviate the healthcare burden.