Temporal Trends in Surgery and Hospitalization Rates for Crohn's Disease in Brazil: A Population-Based Study

Biological therapy has transformed the natural course of inflammatory bowel disease, but there are still controversies regarding its potential to reduce surgical rates for Crohn's disease (CD). This study, conducted with the support of the Brazilian National Healthcare System, aimed to analyze temporal trends in surgery and hospitalization rates among patients with CD and to correlate these data with the dispensing of azathioprine (AZA), infliximab (IFX), and adalimumab (ADA).

This retrospective observational study used data from the National Public Healthcare Department of Informatics through the TT Disease Explorer^® platform from 2012 to 2022. Demographic data, medications used, and the prevalence of surgical procedures and hospitalizations associated with the International Classification of Diseases codes for CD were analyzed. Annual average percent changes (AAPCs) were calculated to assess temporal trends.

Between 2012 and 2022, there was a significant increase of 288.07% in the diagnoses of CD, rising from 27 551 to 106 917 cases. Concurrently, there was an increase in the absolute number of patients treated with AZA, IFX, and ADA, with increasing rates of 65.79%, 251.09%, and 242.48%, respectively. However, the proportion of patients receiving AZA per CD patients decreased by 57.28%, from 44.79% to 19.13% (AAPC = -7.94%, 95% CI, -8.05 to -7.83; P < .001). The use of IFX remained relatively stable, with a slight change from 13.82% to 12.50% (AAPC = 0.01%, 95% CI, -0.20 to 0.22; P = .935), while the use of ADA decreased by 11.75%, from 11.65% to 10.28% (AAPC = -1.74%, 95% CI, -2.48 to -1.82; P < .001). The absolute number of hospitalizations related to CD increased by 57.71%. Despite the rise in the number of cases and the greater availability of biological treatments, the proportion of hospitalized patients decreased by 59.29%, from 6.19% to 2.52% (AAPC = -7.04%, 95% CI, -7.42 to -6.66; P < .001). Similarly, the proportion of surgical procedures relative to the total number of cases decreased by 55.08%, from 1.09% to 0.49% (AAPC = -5.73%, 95% CI, -6.68 to -4.77; P < .001).

Despite the cumulative increase in the prevalence of CD cases in the country and the absolute increase in the dispensing of biologics, the proportion of hospitalizations and surgical procedures among CD patients treated in the public health system in Brazil decreased.