Increasing hospital admission rates and economic burden for colorectal cancer in Brazil, 1996-2008.

OBJECTIVE

to determine the trends in hospital admission rates for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the Brazilian Public Health System from 1996 to 2008 and to assess the economic costs.

METHODS

data from the Hospital Information Systems database of the Brazilian Unified Health System were used for analysis of all admissions with a primary diagnosis of CRC between 1996 and 2008.

RESULTS

there were 297 108 CRC admissions over the study period, with an annual increase from 12 821 in 1996 to 35 040 in 2008. Age-standardized admission rates increased from 8.7 to 23.56 per 100 000 for a percentage increase of 171%. The average length of stay decreased from 11.6 days in 1996 to 7.5 days in 2008. The average hospital mortality declined from 10.4% to 8.5%. Overall costs in United States dollars (US$) of CRC hospitalizations rose from US$ 16.5 million in 1996 to US$ 33.5 million in 2008; the average cost of each admission, however, decreased from US$ 1 283 to US$ 954.

CONCLUSIONS

hospitalization rates for CRC in Brazil significantly increased during a 13-year period, incurring a considerable rise in the inflation-adjusted economic burden; national in-hospital mortality rates have remained relatively high.