Jornal Vascular Brasileiro
https://jvascbras.org/article/doi/10.1590/1677-5449.202401192
Jornal Vascular Brasileiro
Original Article

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on thoracic sympathectomies performed on Brazil’s Public Health System

Impacto da pandemia de covid-19 sobre as simpatectomias torácicas realizadas pelo Sistema Único de Saúde

Carolina Carvalho Jansen Sorbello; Felipe Soares Oliveira Portela; Marcelo Fiorelli Alexandrino da Silva; Marcelo Passos Teivelis; Giulia de Payrebrune St Séve Marins Girardi; José Ribas Milanez de Campos; Nelson Wolosker

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1677-5449.202401192 J Vasc Bras, vol.24, e20240119, 2025
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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected health resources in Brazil, as priority was given to providing care to those infected. As a result, patients with other pathologies suffered delays in treatment, especially those waiting for elective surgical treatments, such as sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis.

Objectives: To analyze the number of thoracic sympathectomies performed to treat hyperhidrosis on the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), their mortality, demographics, length of hospital stay, and associated costs in the periods before, during, and after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that analyzed the number of video-assisted thoracic sympathectomies performed on the SUS in the 2 years prior to the pandemic (2018 and 2019), the 2 years of peak pandemic (2020 and 2021), and the 2 years after (2022 and 2023). Data on regional distribution, profile of patients, hospitalization, and associated mortality were also analyzed. Figures were extracted from the SUS Department of Informatics (DATASUS) database.

Results: The number of sympathectomies performed in Brazil during 2020 and 2021 was 60% lower than the number recorded in 2018 and 2019, followed by a 30% smaller than expected increase in 2022 and 2023. Half of these procedures were conducted in the Southeast region of the country. The profile of patients was predominantly young women. Hospitalization time, costs, and mortality were stable over the years.

Conclusions: The volume of sympathectomies for treatment of hyperhidrosis in the SUS was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and remains in slow recovery. The regional distribution, demographic profile, hospitalization data, and mortality rate remained stable.

Keywords

big data; hyperhidrosis; thoracoscopy; sympathectomy; public health; COVID-19

Resumo

Contexto: A pandemia de covid-19 afetou os recursos de saúde no Brasil, com a priorização do atendimento aos pacientes infectados. Como resultado, outras doenças sofreram atrasos no tratamento, especialmente os procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos, como as simpatectomias para hiperidrose.

Objetivos: Analisar o número de simpatectomias torácicas realizadas para o tratamento de hiperidrose no Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), bem como a taxa de mortalidade, os dados demográficos, o tempo de internação e os custos associados nos períodos antes, durante e após o pico da pandemia de covid-19.

Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal retrospectivo, que analisou o número de simpatectomias torácicas videoassistidas realizadas no SUS nos 2 anos anteriores à pandemia (2018-2019), bem como nos 2 anos de pico (2020-2021) e nos 2 anos posteriores (2022-2023). Também foram analisados a distribuição regional, o perfil dos pacientes, os dados de internação e a mortalidade associada. Os dados foram extraídos do banco de dados do Departamento de Informática do SUS.

Resultados: O número de simpatectomias realizadas em 2020-2021 foi 60% menor do que o registrado em 2018-2019, seguido de um aumento 30% menor do que o esperado em 2022-2023. Metade dos procedimentos ocorreu na região Sudeste. O perfil dos pacientes é de mulheres jovens. O tempo de internação, os custos e a mortalidade se mantiveram estáveis ao longo dos anos.

Conclusões: O volume de simpatectomias para tratamento de hiperidrose no SUS foi extremamente impactado pela pandemia de covid-19 e ainda permanece em lenta recuperação. A distribuição regional, o perfil demográfico, os dados de internação e a mortalidade permaneceram estáveis.

Palavras-chave

big data; hiperidrose; toracoscopia; simpatectomia; saúde pública; covid-19

References

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Submitted date:
08/26/2024

Accepted date:
10/06/2025

Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV)"> Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular (SBACV)">
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