Analysis of hospitalizations due to sensitive conditions to Primary Care and the consequences of health expenditures in 50 municipalities in Minas Gerais

Abstract

Objective: To analyze possible associations between hospitalizations for conditions sensitive to primary care and spending on health actions and services in 50 municipalities in the south of the state of Minas Gerais. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study, using widely accessible secondary data for the years 2017 and 2018. Data were analyzed using statistical analysis of association. Results: On average, municipalities had 23.1 and 22.7 hospitalizations for sensitive conditions in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Municipalities with lower expenditure on health activities in 2017 were 3.16 times more likely to have a higher number of hospitalizations for sensitive conditions in 2017 and 2018 (p=0.05). Among the municipalities with lower expenditure on health activities in 2017, 64.0% had more hospitalizations for sensitive conditions in 2017 and 2018. Among those with higher expenditure, this percentage was lower (36.0%). Conclusion: Higher spending on health actions and services were associated with a lower number of hospitalizations for conditions sensitive to primary care.