Abstract
Background
Hospitalizations due to Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) have been used as an indicator of access to primary care and monitoring of its performance.
Objective
To analyze the behavioral trend of ACSC among elderly in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2010 to 2015.
Method
Ecological study based on data from the Hospital Information System (SIH) of the Unified Health System (SUS), concerning the hospitalization of the elderly aged 60-79 years. ACSC rates were calculated, global, specific by ACSC and by health administrative region.
Results
A total of 126,757 ACSC occurred in the period (8.8% of all hospitalizations by SUS). The overall rate decreased from 10.4 to 9.4 (p /1,000). The causes of hospitalization showed a reduction in the risk of hospitalization for hypertension, nutritional deficiencies, and infectious gastroenteritis, but increased the risk of hospitalization for kidney and urinary tract infection. The ACSC rates also varied according to the health regions: regions with low population density, lower per capita GDP and worse health infrastructure showed higher rates.
Conclusion
The variation of the indicator among health regions may reflect socioeconomic disparities and the organization and supply of health services. Raising inpatient rates for some of the ACSC may indicate the need for PHC services to increase efforts to care for the elderly who suffer from comorbidity more often.
Keywords:
ambulatory care sensitive conditions; hospitalization; older adults; ambulatory care; hospital information system
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