PATTERN OF HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR PNEUMONIA IN OLDER ADULTS IN BRAZIL: ECOLOGICAL STUDY

Pneumonia is one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality among older adults in Brazil, especially in the context of population aging. Immunological changes associated with senescence and the presence of chronic comorbidities increase this population’s vulnerability to severe respiratory infections. With more than 32 million Brazilians aged 60 years or older, the country faces the challenge of adapting its health system to these new demands. This study aimed to analyze the pattern of hospitalizations for pneumonia among individuals aged 60 years or older in Brazil. Observational, ecological and retrospective study based on secondary data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS), extracted from DATASUS. All hospitalizations for pneumonia (ICD-10: J18) in individuals aged 60 years or older in Brazil between 2014 and 2024 were included. The variables analyzed were sex, age group (60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79 and 80 years or older) and geographic region (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and Center-West). Descriptive analysis with tables and Chi-Square (χ²) tests were used to assess the association between variables. A significance level of 5% (p<0.05) was adopted. A total of 2,769,914 hospitalizations for pneumonia in older adults were analyzed between 2014 and 2024. Of these, 1,357,573 occurred in men and 1,412,341 in women. The regions with the highest number of hospitalizations were Southeast (1,164,873), South (609,890) and Northeast (618,807). There was a progressive increase with age, with 1,175,583 hospitalizations (42.4%) in the ≥80 years group. Statistical analyses indicated a significant association between sex and region (χ² = 2,178.61; p<0.001), as well as between age group and region (χ² = 10,966.74; p<0.001), demonstrating demographic and regional variations in the hospitalization profile. The study identified a high burden of hospitalizations for pneumonia among older adults in Brazil, with a predominance of cases in individuals aged 80 years or older and concentration in the Southeast, South and Northeast regions. Differences by sex and age group between regions suggest disparities in the profile of hospital morbidity. The findings reinforce the need to expand access to vaccination against respiratory infections, strengthen primary care and implement regionalized public policies aimed at prevention, early diagnosis and adequate management of pneumonia in older adults.