Hospitalizations for malignant bladder neoplasms in Brazil from 2014 to 2023: a descriptive ecological study

Introduction: Malignant Bladder Neoplasm is a condition with high morbidity, with smoking being the main risk factor. Given the relevance of this issue to Brazilian public health, it is essential to monitor the trends of this disease in different regions of the country.

Objective: To analyze the hospitalization rate and mortality of Malignant Bladder Neoplasm in Brazilian regions from 2014 to 2023.

Method: This descriptive ecological study used data from the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) between January 2014 and December 2023. The variables analyzed were region, hospitalization rate, and mortality. Data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test in GraphPad Prism 9, with significance set at p<0,05.

Results: There were 178,716 hospitalizations for Malignant Bladder Neoplasm in Brazil during the study period, with a hospitalization rate of 8.54/100,000 inhabitants. The Northern region had the lowest hospitalization rate (1.84/100,000 inhabitants) and the highest mortality rate (9.30%), while the Southern region had the highest hospitalization rate (12.93/100,000 inhabitants) and the second lowest mortality rate (6.28%). The high mortality and low hospitalization rate in the Northern region suggest challenges in early diagnosis and treatment, whereas the Southern region, with a high hospitalization rate and low mortality, reflects better access to health services. Significant differences were observed between regional hospitalization rates (p < 0,001), indicated by ANOVA.

Conclusion: The findings reflect regional disparities in Brazil regarding the diagnosis and treatment of Malignant Bladder Neoplasm, as indicated by the literature. Thus, this study highlights the need for public policies to reduce regional disparities in health access.

Corresponding author: Hugo Antunes Macedo (e-mail: hugoantmac@hotmail.com).