HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN THE ELDERLY IN BRAZIL BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze hospitalizations for iron deficiency anemia in the elderly, before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an ecological time series study, using data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), using Prais-Winsten regression. In the period from 2017 to 2023, 42,805 hospitalizations for iron deficiency anemia in the elderly were reported in Brazil. The annual coefficient increased in the country during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, from 21 cases per 100 thousand elderly people in 2017 to 24 per 100 thousand in 2023, showing a stationary trend (-0.5%; p=0.176). The analysis of the hospitalization coefficient and the trend by region was increasing in the North (1.5%; p = 0.040) and Central-West (1.1%; p = 0.049) regions, and stationary in the other regions. Hospitalization and mortality rates were higher in males (22.8 to 26.0 cases/100,000; 7.4 to 6.58%), in the age group of 80 years or older (53.6 to 60.0 cases/100,000; 8.09 to 7.58%), and in emergency care (19.3 to 21.8/100,000; 6.96 to 6.54%). It is possible to conclude that hospitalizations for iron deficiency anemia in the elderly in the country increased, especially during and after the covid-19 pandemic, predominating among men over 80 years of age. Thus, health restrictions, reduced income, viral infection, low intake of iron-rich foods, and difficulties in accessing health services during the Covid-19 pandemic may have contributed to this increase. Thus, the importance of public policies aimed at the health, well-being and quality of life of the elderly population is emphasized, in order to reduce the rates of hospitalizations and mortality in the country.