Back
Kidney failure, even though silent, can lead to severe consequences for the patient. During the pandemic, an increase in renal injuries was observed, with biopsy analyses revealing viral particles in tubular cells and podocytes, along with tubular necrosis in kidneys infected by Sars-CoV-2. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to analyze statistical data aimed at explaining that current situation. Thus, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological profile of patients with renal insufficiency in Brazil, exploring potential changes that occurred in the pre- and post-pandemic periods in the following study.
This study was conducted based on data research collected from the Informatics' Department of the Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), comparing hospitalizations and deaths due to kidney failure in the pre- and post-pandemic periods, spanning from July 2016 to December 2019 and from January 2020 to June 2023. Patients were analyzed with respect to gender, race, and region; individuals from birth to over 80 years old were included. The data was summarized in absolute numbers and presented in tables.
In general, based on the data obtained during the analyzed period, we observed a slight increase in all numbers related to both hospitalizations, which increased from 386,585 to 431,348, and fatalities, with values rising from 50,099 to 54,912. However, the percentage distribution pattern remained consistent when considering the analyzed variables. The ratio of male to female hospitalizations remained at 58% and 42%, respectively, as did the Brazilian regions of Southeast and Northeast, which continued to lead the national statistics. Consequently, the epidemiological profile of patients with renal insufficiency remained predominantly male, with the most prevalent age group shifting from the seventh decade of life (23%) to the eighth decade of life (26%). Notably, there was a shift in the race of those hospitalized, from a majority of white patients (36%) before the pandemic transitioning to a maily brown patients (40%). Similarly, the trend in fatalities followed the same pattern, shifting from a majority of white patients (34.5%) to brown patients (39%).
Hence, one can conclude that, albeit with a slight percentage difference, there is a male predominance in the prevalence of Renal Insufficiency diagnoses in Brazil in the proposed period. However, changes have occurred concerning the established period. It was possible to highlight that the age of the pathology manifestation prevalence has shifted by a decade - moving from the seventh decade of life to the eighth. When evaluating the national territory, the standout regions are the Southeast and Northeast. Therefore, it is essential and relevant for monitoring to occur in an appropriate and cohesive manner, as well as for prevention initiatives to be developed taking into account the overcoming of socioeconomic - when considering the regional perspective - and generational differences - in the case of the prevalence of high-risk groups.