OBJECTIVE:This study describes and analyzes the adequacy of HA prescription, for nutritional replacement, in hospitals of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area and explores the use of SIH/SUS to evaluate the profile and quality of drug prescription. METHODS: The information was collected from the Hospital Information System of the "Sistema Único de Saúde" SIH/SUS from 1999 to 2001. RESULTS: The use of HA for nutritional replacement was recorded in 121 admittances of subjects during 1 year, the most frequent justification being protein-caloric malnutrition (93%). HA use was classified as inadequate in 91% of cases. In 51% of the cases death occurred and the Clinical Practice Unit was responsible for 87% of the admittances. Inadequacy of the prescription was positively associated to length of hospital stay, with RP 1. 14 (IC95% 1.01-1.28). Death showed positive association with the patient's age, with RP 1.72 (IC 95% 1.19-2.48). The absence of laboratory parameters and lack of clinical databank information have limited data analysis. The SIH sub-registration of admittances, within the SUS ambit was another important restriction for more precise identification of the problem. CONCLUSION: In spite of the limitations, the study disclosed the high level of inappropriate utilization of HA for nutritional replacement and the possibilities of using the SIH/SUS databank to evaluate the quality of prescribing drugs such as HA included in the special procedures.
Plasmatic albumin; Nutritional replacement; Clinical protocol; Drug uses; Hospital information system; Epidemiology
