Lupus admissions in the state of Alagoas: 2002-2007

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the number of hospitalizations for Lupus in the state of Alagoas during the period of 2002 to 2007 and to analyze its important aspects. The Health Information System (DATASUS) was used as source of referring data to the hospitalizations. The discussed variables were withdrawn from the Record Room from the Hospital Admission Authorization (AIH) and analyzed in the EP INFO program through statistical measurements of frequency. In this period, 578 lupus patients were admitted into hospitals in Alagoas State, 90.3% of whom were female with an average age of 24.36 years. The patients’ provenience also was taken into account, and most of them came from the Eastern region of the state, especially from the city of Maceió, origin of 50.71% of the patients. This municipal district also held the majority of admissions (94.3%). The Department of General Medicine was the one responsible for largest amount of main diagnosis and patients’ admissions (92.05%), all of these which were compatible with previous studies about Lupus in other places. March was the month with the largest number of hospitalizations (67). The average time of hospitalization was 7.24 days. The total value expenses during all days corresponded to R$ 70.387,51 , with an average cost of R$ 121, 77 per patient and a day cost of R$ 16,80, being these data very divergent from those found in literature. Fourteen (2.4%) of the studied patients died. The main diagnosis of Disseminated not specified Erythematous Lupus (45.33%) prevailed.