Hospital admissions for the treatment of ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms in the Unified Health System of Brazil, 2009-2018: a descriptive study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze hospitalizations for the treatment of ruptured and unruptured brain aneurysms regarding embolization and brain microsurgery in the Unified Health System (SUS), Brazil, from 2009 to 2018. Methods: Descriptive study using data from the Hospital Information System (SIH)/SUS related to the frequency of hospitalizations, procedures, use of the intensive care unit (ICU), lethality and expenses. Results: Of the 43,927 admissions, 22,622 (51.5%) corresponded to microsurgery. There was a higher frequency of embolization and microsurgery procedures among female patients. Of hospitalizations with embolization and microsurgery, respectively, the length of stay was 7.7 (±9.0) and 16.2 (±14.2) days, the frequency of ICU admission was 58.6% and 85.3% and lethality of 5.9% and 10.9%. The total expense was US$ 240 million, of which 66.3% corresponded to hospitalizations with embolization. Conclusion: Hospitalizations with embolization, for the treatment of brain aneurysms in the SUS, had a shorter length of stay, a lower frequency of ICU use and lower lethality, but higher expenses in relation to brain microsurgery.