Epidemiological Profile of Pediatric Leukemia Hospitalizations in the Northeast: An Analysis of the Last Five Years

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Leukemias represent a diverse group of neoplasms that affect the bone marrow. They are the most prevalent type of cancer in children and constitute a significant cause of pediatric hospitalizations. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to identify and describe the epidemiology of leukemia hospitalizations in children up to 14 years old in the Northeast region of the country from 2019 to 2023. METHODOLOGY: This is a descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative and retrospective approach. The investigation focused on leukemia hospitalizations in children up to 14 years old in the Northeast region, during the period from January 2019 to December 2023. Data were obtained from the SIH/SUS through the DATASUS platform, considering aspects such as region/federative unit, year, age group, sex, race/color, type of care, and total cost. The data were organized and analyzed using Excel and Word 2019 software. RESULTS: A total of 25,944 leukemia hospitalizations in children from the Northeast region were documented over the past five years. Pernambuco had the highest number of cases, totaling 8,582 (33.08%), while Sergipe recorded the lowest number, with 779 cases (3.0%). The year 2019 had the lowest number of hospitalizations, with 4,758 records, whereas 2022 had the highest number, totaling 5,509. Children aged 1 to 4 years were the most affected (36.88%). The prevalence was higher among males, at 59.01%, and the most common racial group was parda (64.77%). The total cost of hospitalizations amounted to R$ 61,312,881.84, with 72.64% of the cases classified as emergency. CONCLUSION: Hospitalizations for leukemia in the pediatric population of the Northeast are increasing, with an epidemiological profile predominantly affecting children aged 1 to 4 years, of parda color, and residing in Pernambuco. It is crucial to implement measures for early detection, effective treatment, and continuous support to reduce future hospitalizations.