Indemnities Paid by the DPVAT Insurance: Epidemiological Profile of Accidents Involving Motorcycles in Brazil, Contextualization of Hospital Admissions and Burden to the Unified Health System (SUS) from 2015 to 2018

Abstract

Introduction: Traffic accidents are increasingly frequent in the country and occupy second place in deaths due to external causes. Accidents involving motorcycles represent the main cause of death. To better understand this context, it is important to know the epidemiological profile of traffic accidents, based on the objective data on indemnities paid by the DPVAT insurance, and the number of admissions in the SUS. In this way, it is possible to develop public health and traffic education policies. Objectives: To describe the epidemiological profile of the indemnities paid by the DPVAT in Brazil and the profile of hospitalizations in the Unified Health System for motorcycle accidents, from 2015 to 2018. Methods: Ecological study using data from SIH / SUS, collected from the DATASUS electronic portal, and data from the Statistical Bulletin of Seguradora Líder (DPVAT) between 2015 and 2018. Results and Discussion: For all years, the most affected was the male gender, and ages between 18 and 34 years. In 2015, 76% of the indemnities paid were for motorcycle accidents, representing a total expense for SUS of around R$ 130 million. In 2016, most of the indemnities paid were for permanent disability. Automobile accidents corresponded to 18% of hospitalizations due to external causes, with a total cost of approximately R$ 140 million. In 2017, pedestrians were the second most common type of victim (24% of paid compensations). In 2018, almost R$ 148 million were spent on hospitalizations by SUS. Conclusion: Motorcycle accidents correspond to the majority of indemnities paid by the DPVAT. Individuals of the male gender, from 18 to 34 years old, are the most affected. In the SUS, more than half of the hospitalizations due to traffic accidents are caused by motorcycles, with an average hospital stay of 6 days, and with a great financial cost.