OBJECTIVES : Brazil is predicted to have approximately 6,650 new cases per year of Ovarian cancer (OC) for the triennium 2020–2022. This study examined the temporal trends of OC hospitalizations (including fallopian tube [FT] and peritoneal cancers [PC]) and their associated costs within the Brazilian public healthcare system from 2009 to 2019.

METHODS : Data on hospitalizations from 2009 to 2019 were obtained from Brazilian Hospital Information System (SIH/DATASUS) for OC (ICD-10 C56), FT (ICD-10 C57.0), and PC (ICD-10 C48.1; C48.2). The following outcomes were assessed: number of hospitalizations, length of stay (LOS), costs, and in-hospital mortality. Costs included federal reimbursement for examinations, drugs, medical procedures, and fees during hospital admissions. Costs were calculated in Brazilian currency (BRL) and converted to US dollars (USD). The exchange rate varied from 1 USD=2.37 (2009) to 3.73 BRL (2019). Linear regression models were performed to assess trends over time.

RESULTS : Between 2009 and 2019, 119,887 hospitalizations for OC were registered, representing a mean monthly rate of 908 hospitalizations (95% CI 814 - 1,003). The mean LOS was 5.6 days (95% CI 5.3 – 6.0) and the in-hospital mortality rate was 9.9% (95% CI 9.5% – 10.5%) per event. The total cost of hospitalizations was 86,547,971 USD with a mean annual cost per hospitalization of 685 USD. Of all hospital admissions, 9% (10,310) required admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), representing 21% (18,101,732 USD) of total costs. There was a significant growing trend for both hospitalizations (β 495; 95% CI 408 – 583; p < 0.05) and total costs (β 1,146,555; 95% CI 802,987 – 1,490,124; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS : These findings suggest that the economic burden due to OC hospitalizations in Brazil is substantial and has increased over the past 10 years, highlighting the need for prevention, early diagnosis, and access to more effective therapies.

Funding: GSK (214564)