Hospitalization rate for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease in Brazil and its correlation with socioeconomic inequalities

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), mainly represented by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, have a multifactorial etiology and a growing incidence in developing countries. In Brazil, studies on their occurrence and relationship with social conditions remain scarce, which reinforces the importance of updated epidemiological analyses. Ecological study using secondary data on hospital admissions extracted from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS). Population data were obtained from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and socioeconomic indicators (HDI-M, SVI, and Gini Index) from the Institute for Applied Economic Research (IPEA). Incidence rates were age-standardized according to the WHO world standard population. For time trend analysis, Prais-Winsten linear regression was applied, and to assess relationships with socioeconomic variables, linear regression analysis was used. The statistical software employed was Stata version 18.0. Between 2010 and 2023, there were 64,303 hospital admissions for IBD in Brazil. The highest frequency was observed among women, adults aged 20 to 59 years, and in the Southeast region, while the lowest occurred in the North region. Regarding incidence, there was a significant increase among men, individuals under 19 years old, adults aged 20 to 59 years, and in the Northeast and Southeast regions. Nationally, an annual growth of 2% in incidence was observed. No significant associations were found with socioeconomic indicators, but regional analyses revealed important relationships with HDI-M and SVI. The results demonstrate an increase in hospital admissions for IBD in Brazil, particularly among younger groups and in specific regions, indicating changes in the epidemiological profile. These findings highlight the need for public policies focused on early diagnosis, equitable access to specialized services, and the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance. Future research should explore environmental, nutritional, and social factors that may influence the occurrence and progression of IBD.