Asthma in the Brazilian Unified Health Care System: an epidemiological analysis from 2008 to 2021.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the number of hospitalizations, the length of hospital stay, and mortality due to asthma, as well as the costs to the Unified Health Care System in Brazil between 2008 and 2021. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study using data from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Unified Health Care System. Proportional hospitalization and death rates were estimated per 100,000 population by age, microregion, and year. RESULTS: The number of hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma decreased from 2008 to 2021 (205,392 vs. 55,009 and 822 vs. 327, respectively). In addition, a between-sex difference was observed in asthma-related hospitalizations in 2008, and more men were hospitalized in 2021 (51.8%). Asthma mortality rates were similar for both sexes (50.0% each) in 2008, and a slight increase was observed in women's deaths in 2021 (52.9%). Even so, approximately one death/day and more than 55,000 hospitalizations were observed yearly, with a mean length of hospital stay of three days. Additionally, the Southeast region allocated more financial resources to asthma-related hospitalizations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the number of deaths and hospitalizations due to asthma substantially declined during the study period.

Asthma in the Brazilian Unified Health Care System: an epidemiological analysis from 2008 to 2021

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the number of hospitalizations, the length of hospital stay, and mortality due to asthma, as well as the costs to the Unified Health Care System in Brazil between 2008 and 2021. Methods: This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study using data from the Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Unified Health Care System. Proportional hospitalization and death rates were estimated per 100,000 population by age, microregion, and year. Results: The number of hospitalizations and deaths due to asthma decreased from 2008 to 2021 (205,392 vs. 55,009 and 822 vs. 327, respectively). In addition, a between-sex difference was observed in asthma-related hospitalizations in 2008, and more men were hospitalized in 2021 (51.8%). Asthma mortality rates were similar for both sexes (50.0% each) in 2008, and a slight increase was observed in women's deaths in 2021 (52.9%). Even so, approximately one death/day and more than 55,000 hospitalizations were observed yearly, with a mean length of hospital stay of three days. Additionally, the Southeast region allocated more financial resources to asthma-related hospitalizations. Conclusions: Our results showed that the number of deaths and hospitalizations due to asthma substantially declined during the study period.

Mechanical properties, safety and resistance values of Lemgruber® elastic tubing.

BACKGROUND: Lemgruber® elastic tubing has been used as an adjunct to exercise training with positive effects in healthy adults and in patients with chronic lung disease. Despite its benefits, there is a lack of information on the specific resistance, elongation, reproducibility and safety of the different types of Lemgruber® elastic tubing. OBJECTIVES: The primary outcome was to assess the length-resistance relation (E/R) of five Lemgruber® elastic tubing of different diameters. Secondary outcomes included the development of reference equations of resistance according to elongation of Lemgruber® elastic tubing types and; the description of Lemgruber® elastic tubing safety and; the description of elongation of Lemgruber® elastic tubing using a clinically useful outcome (i.e. range of motion, in degrees). METHODS: The relation between elongation and resistance of Lemgruber® elastic tubing was investigated in a laboratory environment. Secondly, reference equations for the resistance according to the elongation in each Lemgruber® elastic tubing were calculated. Finally, the elongation of the tubing during movements in different degrees of range of motion were estimated using mathematical models, so that the resistance provided by the tubing for any exercise could be predicted. RESULTS: Lemgruber® elastic tubing provided a large array of resistance varying from 3±0.1Newtons (N) to 537±13N (mean±standard deviation). The maximal resistance deemed safe for each of the five Lemgruber® elastic tubing were: 173±25N, 280±23N, 409±40N, 395±37N and 537±13N. Reference equations had nearly perfect predictive power (r2=0.99) for all polynomial non-linear models (p<0.001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Lemgruber elastic tubing progressively increased resistance with increased elongation. The large array of resistances delivered by Lemgruber® elastic tubing, along with its safety and good estimation of reference values, support its use in clinical practice.