Morbidity and public hospital expenditure due to heart failure in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the morbidity profile and public hospital expenditures for heart failure in Brazil from 2015 to 2024. Methods: An ecological, observational, retrospective, and descriptive study with a quantitative approach was conducted using secondary data from the SUS Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS). Results: During the analyzed period, 1,976,524 hospitalizations for heart failure were recorded in Brazil. The Southeast Region registered the highest number of hospitalizations (42.1%) and deaths (47%). The national average length of hospital stay was 7.8 days. The total amount spent on hospitalizations was R$ 3,748,304,207.94, with an average cost of R$ 1,736.57 per hospitalization. Hospitalizations were predominantly among white individuals (37.76%), males (51.86%), and those aged 70 to 79 years (26.5%). 228,724 deaths were reported during the period, resulting in a hospital mortality rate of 11.57%. The highest proportion of deaths occurred in white people (37.8%), females (50.07%), and in the age group of 80 years or older (33.96%). Conclusion: Heart failure remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and high hospital costs in Brazil. The findings reinforce the need for public policies aimed at reducing the clinical and socioeconomic impact of the disease.