OBJECTIVES: Muscular dystrophy (MD) patients are at risk of several complications, including respiratory failure as a main cause of death. Our aim is to describe the profile and outcomes of MD-related hospitalizations and outpatient procedures in the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS).

METHODS: We analyzed open data of hospital admissions and outpatient procedures, between 2018 and 2022, of patients with muscular dystrophy (ICD-10: G71.0) registered in the Public Information Systems.

RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2022 were registered 3,034 MD-related hospitalizations. Most of them were male patients (57%), with a mean age of 27 (± 22) years. The overall in-hospital mortality rate for the five years was 4.8%. The primary procedure codes listed were muscular dystrophy treatment (66.2%), followed by treatment for neuromuscular diseases’ complications (13%). Additionally, pneumonia and respiratory failure were the most common secondary diagnosis reported, with a mortality of 21.9% and 22%, respectively. Average payment by hospitalization was BRL 3,544.5 (± BRL 6,876.3). In the same period, were registered 371,641 outpatient procedures (28% performed in healthcare facilities located in cities other than patient’s residence). Most of them for male patients (64%). Most procedures (63%) were physiotherapy-related (respiratory or physical rehabilitation) and home-based non-invasive mechanical ventilation (24.6%). Average annual cumulative payment by outpatient procedures was BRL 11,948,533 (± BRL 613,172).

CONCLUSIONS: Data from the last five years shows that most MD-related procedures performed in the SUS were outpatient care. The majority of hospital procedures were due to MD treatment, while physiotherapy comprises most outpatient procedures. The primary comorbidities observed were respiratory system-related. These results are important to characterize the disease hospitalization and outpatient profile, and are consistent with the natural history of muscular dystrophies.