# Epidemiological profile and temporal trend of hospitalizations for Alzheimer's disease in the Brazilian Unified Health System (2012–2022)

## TL;DR

This study examines Alzheimer's disease hospitalizations in Brazil from 2012 to 2022, finding higher rates in older women and a rising trend in the Northeast region.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed epidemiological profile and regional trend analysis of AD hospitalizations in Brazil over a decade.

## Key findings

- Hospitalizations were predominantly in females, individuals over 80, and white individuals.
- The Northeast region showed a significant increase in hospitalization rates over the study period.
- Average hospital stay and costs decreased during the analyzed period.

## Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition causing cognitive decline. Given the aging population and increasing prevalence, understanding hospital morbidity patterns is crucial for improving prevention strategies and public health planning.

To analyze the epidemiological profile and temporal trend of AD hospitalizations in Brazil between 2012 and 2022.

The present mixed ecological study used data from the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health system. We calculated the frequencies for sex, age group, and skin color, along with the average length of stay and total costs. Simple linear regression was used for the temporal trend analysis across sex, age groups by sex, and regions.

A higher proportion of hospitalizations was observed in females (65.80%), individuals aged 80 years or older (60.12%), and white individuals (49.06%). The average hospital stay was 21.6 days, with a total cost of R$ 23,306,587.01. The hospitalization trend was stable across both sexes, all age groups, and most regions (4.88/100 thousand hospitalizations), except for the Northeast, which showed a significant increase (β = 0.408;
p
 < 0.001).

The profile of AD hospitalizations in Brazil is predominantly female, in individuals over 80 and white. While the trend remained stable nationally, there was an increase in the Northeast region. Additionally, a reduction in the average number of hospitalization days and hospital costs was observed throughout the period analyzed.