Highlights ■ Public hospitals in Brazil performed 37,741 hallux valgus surgery procedures between January 2008 and October 2024. ■ The study population consisted of 79.7% females, with the most common age group being 40-69 years (67.7%). The mean length of stay was 1.7 days. ■ The mean cost per patient was US$ 141.53. ■ The overall mortality count was nine, corresponding to a death rate of 0.024%. ABSTRACT Objective: This study aimed to describe patient profiles and analyze costs, hospital […]

Highlights ■ More than 2 million procedures were analyzed in the public health system from 2019 to 2023. ■ A total of 13 types of procedures were performed across 7 different specialties. ■ A 35% reduction in the total number of surgeries was observed. ■ There was no recovery of surgeries postponed during the pandemic. ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze changes in surgical volume across different specialties in Brazil before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive observational study […]

Highlights ■ Vendor Neutral Archive implementation has an return on investment of 5.63% in the first year and 10.12% after three years. ■ At least 11,500 exams are needed annually for a positive return on investment in the first year after implementation. ■ Vendor Neutral Archive enhances interoperability and efficiency by standardizing and centralizing image storage. ■ Scalability is key: higher adoption of Vendor Neutral Archive leads to greater financial and operational benefits. ABSTRACT Objective: To conduct an ex-ante cost-benefit […]

Highlights ■ The extract, transform, and load algorithm automates data extraction and updates in the PostgreSQL database. ■ The interactive dashboard enables detailed queries on establishments and professionals. ■ Results highlight medical doctor deficit in 22 cities and a shortage of community agents. ■ The tool can scale and assist managers in resource allocation for healthcare. ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a process (pipeline) for extracting, processing, and analyzing data from the National Registry of Health Establishments in the State of […]

Highlights ■ Most outpatient consultations comprised diagnostic procedures. ■ In the past 12 years, medical care for benign breast diseases has cost >USD 65 million. ■ Women from North and Midwest Brazil had higher diagnosis and treatment displacement rates. ABSTRACT Objective: To quantitatively and geospatially analyze coverage and displacement for the diagnosis and treatment of benign breast diseases in the Brazilian Unified Health System between 2008 and 2019. Methods: Datasets from the Brazilian Ministry of Health were used to survey […]

ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic kidney disease is a progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function and considerably affects the lives of patients and their families. Its high incidence necessitates efficient public policies for prevention and treatment. However, policies for chronic kidney disease education and awareness are scarce. Objective To evaluate global public policies for the prevention and treatment of chronic kidney disease adopted in various regions, aiming to comprehend the differences between various models. Methods This integrative review followed PRISMA recommendations […]

Highlights Incorporation of secukinumab and ustekinumab was economically feasible. These drugs are options for those who do not respond to or have contraindications to etanercept. ABSTRACT Objective: Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of secukinumab and ustekinumab against moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a Brazilian pediatric population with access to public healthcare. Methods: A survey of immunobiological treatments registered for use against pediatric psoriasis at the National Health Surveillance Agency was conducted. These treatments were compared to the list […]

Highlights Forty-three percent of referrals from basic healthcare units to a specialized vascular surgical service were regarded as inappropriate. The main reasons for inappropriate referrals included study participants without an indication for surgery and those referred to the wrong specialty. A high proportion of inappropriate referrals resulted in the subutilization of highly complex services. Use of telemedicine will assist in reducing the rate of inappropriate referrals. ABSTRACT Objective: Consequently, in this study, we aimed to evaluate 1,203 cases of referral […]

Highlights Efforts should be made to improve all aspects of prenatal care. The criteria used in this study were multidimensional and cover different aspects of care. Prenatal care must include recognition of socioeconomic and cultural differences among users.   ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate prenatal and puerperium care levels received and identify their association with sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to December 2020 and included women who gave birth at the Municipal Hospital of […]

Highlights ■ The clinico-functional characteristics of post-stroke patients changed in the pandemic. ■ The sociodemographic characteristics of post-stroke patients did not change in the pandemic. ■ Post-stroke patients had a greater stroke severity and disability at the beginning of the pandemic. ■ The occurrence of ischemic stroke increased with the advancement of the pandemic. ABSTRACT Objective To compare the sociodemographic and clinico-functional characteristics of patients admitted to a stroke unit immediately before and during two different COVID-19 pandemic phases. Methods […]