Expenses related to hospital admissions for the elderly in Brazil: perspectives of a decade.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the profile of morbidities and expenses related to hospitalization of the elderly compared to the adult population (20 to 59 years).


METHODS
A descriptive, cross-sectional investigation of hospitalizations of the elderly (60 years or older) in Brazil during the period from 2002 to 2011, with data from DATASUS and based on ICD-10.


RESULTS
Although the highest number of hospitalizations were in the adult age range, the expenses were greater with the elderly, and in this case especially with mental and behavioral disorders, musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases, followed by circulatory diseases and external causes.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest the adoption of more comprehensive policies and increased investment in health promotion, disease prevention, and appropriate and suitable treatment for the most prevalent diseases in the elderly, particularly in primary care.
Rodrigo Eurípedes da
RE
Silveira
Alvaro da Silva
Ada S
Santos
Mariana Campos de
MC
Sousa
Taciana Silva Alves
TS
Monteiro
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009313:National Health Programs; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult