Internações hospitalares por infecções oculares

Abstract

Description of Hospital Admissions Due to Ocular Infections in Rio Grande do Sul from 2018 to 2020. Introduction: Ocular infections occur when pathogenic microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites – invade any structure that makes up the eyeball or adjacent tissues. Objective: To analyze hospital admissions for ocular infections from 2018 to 2020 and examine the prevalence by gender and ethnicity. Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive study using secondary data collected from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System – DATASUS. Results: The most common type of care during the study period was elective admissions (73.5%), while emergency admissions accounted for 26.4%. The population most affected by hospitalizations for ocular infections was male (50.2%), white (76.2%), and aged 60 to 69 years (24.5%). The prevalence of hospital admissions for ocular infections in 2018 was approximately 8 per 100,000 inhabitants. The following year, an increase was observed, resulting in an instant prevalence of approximately 10.3 admissions. Conversely, in 2020, there was a decrease in the number of cases to about 7.1. Discussion: Hospitalization rates may be related to the issue that the male population does not prioritize health care and primary health follow-up. Conclusion: It is important to highlight the significance of the present study in demonstrating the target audience for hospital admissions due to ocular infections.