Análise da distribuição dos nascimentos com marcadores de gravidade em maternidades com unidade de terapia intensiva neonatal no Sistema Único de Saúde

Cost-Utility Analysis of Wide-Field Imaging as an Auxiliary Technology for Retinopathy of Prematurity Care in Brazil

Purpose: To evaluate the cost-utility of wide-field imaging (WFI) as a complementary technology for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening from the Brazilian Unified Health System's perspective. Introduction: ROP is one of the leading causes of avoidable childhood blindness worldwide, especially in middle-income countries. The current ROP screening involves indirect binocular ophthalmoscopy (IBO) by ROP expert ophthalmologists. However, there is still insufficient ROP screening coverage. An alternative screening strategy is the combination of WFI with IBO. Methods: A cost-utility analysis was performed using a deterministic decision-tree simulation model to estimate incremental cost-utility for ROP care. Two screening strategies were compared: (1) IBO and (2) combination of WFI of all eligible preterm infants and IBO for type 2 ROP or worse and for non-readable images. Eligible population included preterm infants <32 weeks of gestational age or birth weight equal to or <1,500 g. The temporal horizon was lifetime. Visual outcome data was converted to utility, and the health benefits were estimated on quality-adjusted life-years (QALY). Incremental cost per QALY gained was calculated from the health system perspective. Costs were estimated considering equipment, maintenance, consumables, and staff. A micro-costing approach was used for WFI. Two technician nurses were trained for imaging execution and had their time evaluated. Two ROP expert ophthalmologists had their time evaluated for imaging reading. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed. Results: Combined screening strategy resulted in a cost-effective program considering 90% ROP screening coverage. Costs per examination: (1) screening with IBO: US dollar (US $) 34.36; (2) screening with combination: US $58.20; (3) laser treatment: US $642.09; (4) long-term follow-up: ranged from US $69.33 to 286.91, based on the infant's visual function. Incremental cost per QALY gained was US $1,746.99/QALY per infant screened with the combination strategy. One-way sensitivity analysis resulted in cost-effectiveness for all parameters. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses yielded a 100% probability of combination being cost-effective in a willingness-to-pay threshold of US $1,800/QALY. Conclusion: The combined strategy for ROP screening was cost-effective. It enhances access for appropriate ROP care in middle-income countries and dminishes opportunity costs for ophthalmologists.

Trend of preventable neonatal mortality in the States of Brazil

Abstract Objectives: to describe the trend of preventable neonatal mortality due to interventions by the Unified Health System in Brazil from 2000 to 2018, according to groups of causes of death and maternal residence. Methods: mixed ecological study with data from the Mortality Information System and Information System on Live Births. The analysis occurred based on the number and rates of avoidable neonatal mortality, polynomial regression models by least squares method and thematic maps. Results: the avoidable neonatal mortality rate decreased from 10.98 in 2000 to 6.76 per 1,000 live births in 2018. Preventable causes prevailed due to adequate care for women during pregnancy, childbirth, fetus and newborn. Deaths from preventable causes from health promotion actions during pregnancy increased in Maranhão (p=0.003) and the Federal District (p=0.001) and remained stable in nine states. There was stability in the rates of mortality due to delivery in Maranhão, Piauí and Amazonas. The causes avoidable by actions with the newborn showed a decreasing trend, except for Roraima where there was stability. Conclusions: there are inequalities in trends of avoidable neonatal mortality rates in the states second according to the group of causes and the need to improve access to and quality of maternal and child health care in these places

Evaluation of the birthplace of newborns with gestational age less than 34 weeks according to the complexity of the Neonatal Unit in maternity hospitals linked to the "Rede Cegonha": Brazil, 2016-2017

This study aims to evaluate the birthplace of preterm infants with less than 34 gestational weeks at birth by type of neonatal care service in maternity hospitals of the "Rede Cegonha" and estimate the maternal factors associated with the inadequate place of birth for gestational age. This national cross-sectional study was performed in 2016/2017 to evaluate health establishments with the Rede Cegonha's action plan. Information was analyzed from 303 puerperae and the respective health establishments of their births. Newborns were classified by gestational age at birth (<30 and 30-33 weeks) and health establishments as hospitals with neonatal intensive care service, hospitals with intermediate neonatal care service, and hospitals without neonatal care service. Ministerial Ordinance N° 930/2012 was used to classify the birthplace as appropriate for the newborn's gestational age. Preterm birth prevalence was 37.3 at less than 30 weeks' gestation and 66.8 at 30-33 weeks. Birth in inappropriate services for the newborn's gestational age occurred in 6.3%, with significant regional and social differences. Inequalities in access to neonatal care for preterm infants persist in the "Rede Cegonha" despite advances.

[Profile of service providers in high-risk neonatal care in the databases of the Brazilian Unified National Health System]

The study aimed to analyze the profile of service providers in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in relation to high-risk neonatal care procedures, based on data from the public-access database on Authorizations for Hospital Admissions (AIH) without identification of the neonatal patient. This cross-sectional study used data on AIH of unidentified newborns up to one day old, issued from January 2013 to December 2015, and from the National Registry of Healthcare Establishments. The TwoStep Cluster method was used to classify the establishments with similar characteristics. Regional differences were observed in the frequency of use of neonatal intensive care units and in special procedures recorded in the databases. The TwoStep Cluster method identified three groupings of providers: the first with 1,151 establishments and with low-complexity hospitalizations, the second with 84 establishments and surgical-profile hospitalizations, and the third with 393 establishments and higher complexity hospitalizations in neonatal care, including surgeries. The records on admissions jointly with multivariate analytical techniques have the potential to support decision-making by SUS administrators in the organization of neonatal care.