Hospitalization of children for asthma in the Brazilian Amazon: trend and spatial distribution

To analyze the distribution of hospitalizations of children for asthma in the states comprising the Brazilian Amazon, as well as the variations of hospitalization according to climatic seasonality. A descriptive study of the distribution of hospitalizations for asthma of individuals aged 0 to 14 years living in the Brazilian Amazon, according to trend, spatial distribution, and climatic seasonality over the period from 2001 to 2007. We used the database of authorizations for hospitalizations (AIH) of the Hospital Information System (SIH/SUS) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The spatial distribution of hospitalizations for asthma resembles the configuration of the "arc of deforestation," mainly in the states of Rondônia and Maranhão. The distribution of annual hospitalizations for asthma decreased from 8.1 to 2.6 hospitalizations/1,000 inhabitants during the period. There was a peak of hospitalizations in March and May in all states. The seasonal differences were on average 10%, with the highest rates during the rainy season. We concluded that hospitalizations for asthma are more frequent in the months of more intense rainfall, with greater magnitude in the states comprising the "arc of deforestation" in the Brazilian Amazon, especially Rondônia and Maranhão.