An evaluation of the epidemiological profile of the leading causes of hospitalization in the elderly population in Brasil shows us, first and foremost, how much health policies contribute to the quality of life of these individuals. Based on such an evaluation, it is possible to understand, too, how we are aging, i.e., the price we pay for longer survival in a context somewhat unfavorable.
By studying the morbidities that lead to the hospitalization of elderly individuals, we notice that, in their majority, they are represented by diseases or injuries that should be prevented and treated in Primary Health Care (PHC). Therefore, studies of this nature show that primary care is often not able to fulfill its role in the face of the complexity of elderly individuals11. Marques AP, Montilla DER, Almeida WS, Andrade CLT. Internação de idosos por condições sensíveis à atenção primária à saúde. Rev Saúde Pública. 2014;48(5):817-26.,44. Soares A, Lima K, Mendes T, Menezes M. Causes for hospitalization of elderly individuals due to primary care sensitive conditions and its associated contextual factors. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2019; 65(8)1086-1092..
Santos et al.22. Santos SL, Turra CM, Noronha K. Envejecimiento de la población y el gasto en salud: un análisis de las transferencias intergeneracionales e intrageneracionales en los planes privados de salud de Brasil. Rev Bras Estud Popul. [online] 2018;35(2):e0062. strengthen these findings by arguing that the hospitalization rates among the elderly population are much higher than that of other age groups, precisely on account of the high prevalence of chronic-degenerative diseases and of multi-morbidities that are frequent in these individuals. Thus, we can see that health policies are still unable to meet, in full, the demands generated by the Brazilian demographic/epidemiological transition.
Regarding the costs, Góis, and Veras33. Góis ALB, Veras RP. Informações sobre a morbidade hospitalar em idosos nas internações do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2010;15(6):2859-69. found that the average cost of hospitalizations in the Unified Health System (SUS) is higher in the age range of 60 to 69 years, and it decreases with the increase of age. These findings, curiously, show that the cost of medical/hospital care by elderly Brazilians is not directly related to increased costs of procedures, but with their use rate.
Therefore, to meet the demands from the increasing elderly Brazilian population, it is not necessary to raise expenditure on health, but improve the quality of procedures already offered and invest in the PHC, so that elderly individuals would need to use these services less frequently.
In this context, we can understand how important it is to investigate and discuss the causes of hospitalizations of the elderly individuals due to primary care sensitive conditions, especially in the Northeast of Brasil, where the population is extremely vulnerable and aged.
REFERENCES
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1Marques AP, Montilla DER, Almeida WS, Andrade CLT. Internação de idosos por condições sensíveis à atenção primária à saúde. Rev Saúde Pública. 2014;48(5):817-26.
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2Santos SL, Turra CM, Noronha K. Envejecimiento de la población y el gasto en salud: un análisis de las transferencias intergeneracionales e intrageneracionales en los planes privados de salud de Brasil. Rev Bras Estud Popul. [online] 2018;35(2):e0062.
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3Góis ALB, Veras RP. Informações sobre a morbidade hospitalar em idosos nas internações do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva. 2010;15(6):2859-69.
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4Soares A, Lima K, Mendes T, Menezes M. Causes for hospitalization of elderly individuals due to primary care sensitive conditions and its associated contextual factors. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2019; 65(8)1086-1092.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
12 Sept 2019 -
Date of issue
Aug 2019
