AIM: To describe at the national level and by age group, gender, and geographic region, all 327,800 first-listed hospitalizations for diabetes mellitus (DM) financed by the national health system (SUS) in Brazil, 1999-2001. METHOD: Data from the SUS' Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) for DM as the first-listed diagnosis (ICD-10 E10-E14 and procedure performed) were obtained and indicators calculated by region of residence of the patients and gender (adjusted by direct method for age with 95% confidence intervals), age intervals, average length of stay and expenditure by admission and population in US$. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for death as outcome. RESULTS: Hospitalization coefficients were higher for women (7.5/10(4)inhab. [7.4-7.6] vs 5.2 [5.2-5.3]), although hospital lethality was higher for men (5.9 vs 5.0%) in all five regions. No differences were found in the average length of stay between hospitalizations with/without death (6.5 days [6.3-6.3] vs. 6.4 [6.3-6.6]) despite higher average expenditures (US$ 275.27 [268.37-282.16] vs. 143.45 [136.56-150.35]). Population expenditure was US$ 969.09/10(4) inhabitants. Odds ratio for death were higher for men, patients > 75 yrs, and inhabitants of the northeast and southeast. Developed regions accounted for nearly twice higher expenses than other regions. CONCLUSIONS: Inequalities in hospitalizations and resources emphasize the need for a better health coverage that could reduce the number of hospitalizations and lessen the severity of DM and its complications.
Diabetes; Morbidity; Health resources; Health services accessibility
