OBJECTIVE:
to describe the evolution of hospitalizations due to external causes in Brazil from 2002 to 2011.
METHODS:
a time-series study of hospitalizations due to external causes occurred in public hospitals, using data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS) analyzed using simple linear regression.
RESULTS:
predominated hospitalizations due to falls (41%) and traffic accidents (15%); the average annual increase in the hospitalization rates (∆HR) due to external causes was 13.1 hospitalizations/100,000 inhabitants (p<0.001); there was increase in hospitalizations due to falls (∆HR: 2.7/100,000; p<0.001) and traffic accidents (∆HR: 2.1/100,000; p=0.014) and reduction in hospitalizations due to self-harm injuries (∆HR: -0.2/100,000; p<0.001); hospitalizations for assaults remained stable.
CONCLUSION:
the study confirms the progressive increase in the demand for hospitalization due to external causes, mainly due to accidental causes, in public hospitals in Brazil in recent years.
External Causes; Accidents; Violence; Hospitalization; Time Series Studies
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