Health Services – ABC CARDIOL

IJCS

Original Article

Overview of Heart Failure in Brazil over 15 Years of Analysis: Impacts and Perspectives for the Health System

Gabriel Dalves Lauretti Betez et al. Eduarda Braga Rossi Sofia Liz Gutierrez Natalia Puschnick Gimenez Giovanna Brian de Moura

Abstract

Background:

Heart failure (HF) remains one of the leading causes of hospital admissions and in-hospital mortality in Brazil. As the population ages, understanding how these hospitalizations have evolved over time is crucial for improving healthcare planning and reducing the burden on the public health system.

Objectives:

To evaluate temporal trends in HF hospitalizations in Brazil from 2010 to 2024, considering factors such as time, region, patient profile, and hospital-related costs.

Methods:

This observational study used data from the Brazilian Unified Health System’s Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Hospitalization rates per 100,000 inhabitants were adjusted using population estimates from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Temporal trends were assessed using annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

Over 3 million HF hospitalizations were recorded during the study period. Annual admissions declined from 264,000 in 2010 to 205,000 in 2024, representing an average annual decrease of 1.8%. Adjusted rates fell from 135.3 to 94.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (AAPC: −2.55%; p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality peaked in 2021, reaching 13.5%. The average cost per hospitalization more than doubled, rising from BRL 1,151.42 to BRL 2,459.57.

Conclusion:

Despite a significant reduction in hospitalization rates, HF continues to pose a major challenge to Brazil’s healthcare system due to its high case volume and the steadily rising economic burden.

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Letter to the Editor

Response to “Readmission of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and its Determinants”: An Overview of PHC

Laís Cruz Lima et al. Eliane Mazzuco André Luís Prudêncio

Reply

We are thankful to the comments and for the interest in our study, which is about a relevant topic, i.e., readmission of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its determinants to both public hospitals (Brazil’s public health system — SUS) and private hospitals. A better understanding of the findings we reached, which certainly reflect what happens in the country, will result in benefits for the therapeutic approach of those who have this major disease.

The expressive rate of readmissions observed, which certainly has a significant impact on health costs, results not only from clinical factors, but also from the type of assistance received by the patient, both during hospitalization and after discharge. It is worth noting that about 72% of the Brazilian population depends exclusively on the public health system. Therefore, as we said, Primary Health Care (PHC) can play a pivotal role in the adoption and reinforcement of secondary prevention measures that will surely be successful for those particularly affected by ACS. According to Ordinance No. 2436 of the Ministry of Health, published on 21/9/2017, Brazil’s Policy on Primary Health Care provides for the longitudinality of care, with monitoring of the effects of health interventions and coordination of care. Therefore, person-centered care, also advocated in this ordinance, places PHC in a fundamental role of helping patients to develop knowledge, skills and competence to better take care of their own health. Health education actions are essential to stress self-care and the prevention of subsequent readmissions. Finally, co-responsibility between health professionals and patients in the implementation of actions to prevent complications of the disease, health promotion and proper therapeutic adherence can positively influence the reduction of readmission rates.

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