AVOIDABLE HYPERTENSIVE ADMISSIONS: ACUTE COMPLICATIONS AND HOSPITAL UTILIZATION IN CHILE’S PUBLIC SECTOR
Author(s)
Daniela Paredes, BSc, MPH1, Alejandro Sanchez Velasquez, MD, Master in Heart Failure2, André Luiz A. de Souza, BSc, MBA3, JUAN VALENCIA, MSc, MD4, Jennifer Maloney, MBA5;
1Senior Manager Health Economics & Reimbursement South Latam. Health Economics & Reimbursement. Medtronic Chile., Prof, Santiago, Chile, 2Principal Medical Affairs Latam. Medtronic Colombia., Bucaramanga, Colombia, 3Principal Advanced Analytics Analyst. Clinical Research and Medical Science Latin America. Medtronic Brazil., São Paulo, Brazil, 4Sr. Director Health Economics, Policy, and Reimbursement Latin America. Medtronic, US., Miami, FL, USA, 5Senior Clinical Research Manager. Clinical Research and Medical Science Latin America. Medtronic, US., Minneapolis, MN, USA
1Senior Manager Health Economics & Reimbursement South Latam. Health Economics & Reimbursement. Medtronic Chile., Prof, Santiago, Chile, 2Principal Medical Affairs Latam. Medtronic Colombia., Bucaramanga, Colombia, 3Principal Advanced Analytics Analyst. Clinical Research and Medical Science Latin America. Medtronic Brazil., São Paulo, Brazil, 4Sr. Director Health Economics, Policy, and Reimbursement Latin America. Medtronic, US., Miami, FL, USA, 5Senior Clinical Research Manager. Clinical Research and Medical Science Latin America. Medtronic, US., Minneapolis, MN, USA
OBJECTIVES: Hypertension affects many Chilean people and is traditionally managed in the primary care setting. However, hypertensive patients with poorly controlled disease or acute complications such as heart failure, cerebral infarction, and/or myocardial ischemia require hospitalization. This study profiles hospital admissions for acute hypertensive complications in Chile’s public hospital system.
METHODS: A descriptive analysis of hypertension-related admissions due to acute complications (heart failure, cerebral infarction, and myocardial ischemia) was conducted among an adult population (+18 years-old). The study examined sociodemographic characteristics, diagnostic profiles (ICD-10), related procedures (ICD-9-CM), and resource utilization between 2019 and 2024, using open-access DRG data from Chile’s public health insurer (FONASA).
RESULTS: In total, 95,774 admissions involving hypertensive patients with the specified acute complications were retrieved. Women accounted 48.8% of admissions, and although the mean age was 73-year-old, 63.0% of patients were 70 years or older. Admissions were classified with moderate severity in 38.7% of cases and an average hospital stay of 8 days, extended to 12 days in the group of cases with higher severity (37.4%). The 6-years readmission rate was 1.14 events per patient, with a total mortality rate of 7.0%. Each patient presented, on average, with 9 comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were: I48 Atrial fibrillation and flutter (7.0%), J96 Respiratory failure (5.1%), E11 Type 2 diabetes (4%), N17 Acute kidney failure (3.6%), and I67 Other cerebrovascular diseases (3.1%). Other heart diseases accounted for 13,754 discharges (14.4%), followed by Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69 ; 8.2%), and Acute / Chronic kidney disease (N17-N19 ; 5.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations of hypertensive patients with acute complications impose a significant burden on Chile’s public hospitals. Our findings highlight the need to reinforce preventive and ambulatory care strategies to reduce preventable admissions and relieve the burden on tertiary hospitals.
METHODS: A descriptive analysis of hypertension-related admissions due to acute complications (heart failure, cerebral infarction, and myocardial ischemia) was conducted among an adult population (+18 years-old). The study examined sociodemographic characteristics, diagnostic profiles (ICD-10), related procedures (ICD-9-CM), and resource utilization between 2019 and 2024, using open-access DRG data from Chile’s public health insurer (FONASA).
RESULTS: In total, 95,774 admissions involving hypertensive patients with the specified acute complications were retrieved. Women accounted 48.8% of admissions, and although the mean age was 73-year-old, 63.0% of patients were 70 years or older. Admissions were classified with moderate severity in 38.7% of cases and an average hospital stay of 8 days, extended to 12 days in the group of cases with higher severity (37.4%). The 6-years readmission rate was 1.14 events per patient, with a total mortality rate of 7.0%. Each patient presented, on average, with 9 comorbidities. The most frequent comorbidities were: I48 Atrial fibrillation and flutter (7.0%), J96 Respiratory failure (5.1%), E11 Type 2 diabetes (4%), N17 Acute kidney failure (3.6%), and I67 Other cerebrovascular diseases (3.1%). Other heart diseases accounted for 13,754 discharges (14.4%), followed by Cerebrovascular diseases (I60-I69 ; 8.2%), and Acute / Chronic kidney disease (N17-N19 ; 5.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalizations of hypertensive patients with acute complications impose a significant burden on Chile’s public hospitals. Our findings highlight the need to reinforce preventive and ambulatory care strategies to reduce preventable admissions and relieve the burden on tertiary hospitals.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
HSD52
Topic
Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory)