Analysis of pediatric hospitalizations for malignant brain neoplasms between 2019 and 2023 in the Northeast region

Introduction: Malignant brain neoplasms are a group of central nervous system tumors, the most common solid tumors in children and adolescents. Due to the complexity of the disease, pediatric brain neoplasm hospitalizations often involve emergencies and extended hospital stays.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of pediatric hospitalizations for malignant brain neoplasms in the Brazilian Northeast region from 2019 to 2023.

Methods: This cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive study evaluates pediatric hospitalizations for malignant brain neoplasms in the Northeast region between January 2019 and December 2023. Data was collected using the Informatics Department of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS), through the TABNET tool. Information was collected regarding hospital admissions, deaths, and average hospital stay, and the selected variables were “Federative Unit,” “Year of Service,” “Type of Service,” “Age Group,” “Race/Ethnicity,” and “Gender”. The selected data were evaluated using Microsoft Excel software, using the statistical data analysis tool.

Results: From 2019 to 2023, there were 3,991 hospitalizations for malignant brain neoplasms in the Northeast, accounting for 26.7% of the national total. Bahia had the highest number, with 995 hospitalizations (24%), while Maranhão had the lowest, with 220 (5.5%). The annual average was 798 hospitalizations, with 2022 being the peak year, with 937 cases. The most affected age group was 5 to 9 years (39.3%), while those under 1 year were the least affected (2.3%). Males accounted for 54.4% of the hospitalizations, and 77.3% were emergency cases. The most common race/skin color was brown, while yellow was the least affected. The average length of stay was 7.2 days, varying significantly by federation unit and type of care, with Ceará, Sergipe, and Rio Grande do Norte showing atypical averages of 13.5, 12.3, and 2.2 days, respectively. Indigenous race/skin color had a longer average stay at 19.5 days. There was a strong correlation between hospitalization numbers and deaths.

Conclusion: The results show the prominence of the Northeast region in the national scenario of brain neoplasms in children, which reinforces the need of a preparation, from the health system, to diagnose and manage those cases. The findings also highlight regional and racial disparities, indicating a need for further studies to ensure equity in care.

Corresponding author: Giulia Di Credico Paranhos (e-mail: giulia.di@estudante.ufcg.edu.br).