Temporal Trends in Cancer-Related Hospitalizations in Brazil Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic Nationwide
Luísa Schafre, Eduarda Paiva Borsa, Yasmin Marques Loureiro, Amanda Bendo Pereira, Rafaela Coelho PiresPURPOSE
Cancer remains a major public health challenge worldwide, requiring continuous access to hospital-based care for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted healthcare systems and may have negatively impacted oncologic care delivery, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer-related hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality in Brazil using nationwide DATASUS data.
METHODS
A retrospective ecological study was conducted using secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS-DATASUS). Hospitalizations related to neoplasms (ICD-10 Chapter II) between 2018 and 2024 were analyzed. Variables included annual number of hospitalizations, average length of hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality rate. Temporal trends before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic were compared descriptively.
RESULTS
Between 2018 and 2024, 6,334,578 cancer-related hospitalizations were recorded in Brazil. Hospital admissions decreased from 882,613 in 2019 to 759,914 in 2020, representing a 13.9% reduction during the first year of the pandemic. Following this decline, hospitalization rates progressively increased, reaching 1,105,374 admissions in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The average hospital stay decreased from 5.0 days in 2018 to 4.4 days in 2024. In-hospital mortality rates increased during the pandemic peak, rising from 8.12% in 2019 to 8.93% in 2020, followed by gradual reduction, reaching 7.29% in 2024.
CONCLUSION
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a substantial reduction in cancer-related hospitalizations and increased in-hospital mortality in Brazil during 2020. The subsequent recovery in hospitalization rates suggests gradual restoration of oncologic care services after the pandemic peak. These findings reinforce the importance of maintaining healthcare system resilience and continuity of cancer care during global health emergencies, particularly in resource-limited settings.