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. 2024 Mar 18;16(1):13-18.
doi: 10.4103/jgid.jgid_59_23. eCollection 2024 Jan-Mar.

Epidemiological and Financial Aspects of Hospitalizations for Bacterial Meningitis in Brazil

Isabela Oliveira Oliva  1 , Ana Clara Santos Xavier  1 , Hiara Francielly Carvalho Chaves  1 , Luis Fernando Vasconcelos Moreira  1 , Marcos Vinicius Macedo de Oliveira  1 , Henrique Nunes Pereira Oliva  2
Affiliations

Epidemiological and Financial Aspects of Hospitalizations for Bacterial Meningitis in Brazil

Isabela Oliveira Oliva et al. J Glob Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the epidemiology and cost implications of acute bacterial meningitis is crucial for effective health planning, timely treatment implementation, and comprehensive patient support measures, as well as for determining appropriate hospital expenses. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of hospitalization cases for bacterial meningitis in Brazil from January 2008 to December 2019.

Methods: This is a descriptive ecological study that utilized the Hospital Information System of Brazil's National Unified Health System (SIH/SUS) database. The variables included sex, region, age group, hospitalizations, deaths, lethality rate, and hospital service expenses. The data were tabulated to focus specifically on the epidemiological aspect of bacterial meningitis.

Results: During the study period, there were 20,207 hospitalizations for bacterial meningitis in Brazil. Men accounted for a higher number of cases, with 11,690 (57.67%), while women had a higher lethality rate of 10.64%. The Southeast region had the highest percentage of both hospitalizations (45.78%) and deaths (46.42%). Bacterial meningitis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children under 5 years of age. Notably, the elderly and the Northeast region showed higher rates of lethality. The total expenditure on hospital services exceeded 43 million in Brazilian real, with the highest expenditure observed in 2019 and the lowest in 2011.

Conclusion: A higher prevalence of the disease was observed in males, in children under 1-year-old and in the southeast region. Hospital expenditures were found to be substantial and increasing over time, underscoring the significance of early diagnosis and the promotion of vaccination campaigns.

Keywords: Bacterial meningitis; epidemiology; health expenditures; hospitalization.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Average and total cost of hospital services for bacterial meningitis in Brazil from 2008 to 2019. BRL: Brazilian real
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average and total cost of hospital services for bacterial meningitis by region of Brazil from 2008 to 2019. BRL: Brazilian real
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