Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on thoracic sympathectomies performed on Brazil’s Public Health System

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected health resources in Brazil, as priority was given to providing care to those infected. As a result, patients with other pathologies suffered delays in treatment, especially those waiting for elective surgical treatments, such as sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis. Objectives To analyze the number of thoracic sympathectomies performed to treat hyperhidrosis on the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), their mortality, demographics, length of hospital stay, and associated costs in the periods before, during, and after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study that analyzed the number of video-assisted thoracic sympathectomies performed on the SUS in the 2 years prior to the pandemic (2018 and 2019), the 2 years of peak pandemic (2020 and 2021), and the 2 years after (2022 and 2023). Data on regional distribution, profile of patients, hospitalization, and associated mortality were also analyzed. Figures were extracted from the SUS Department of Informatics (DATASUS) database. Results The number of sympathectomies performed in Brazil during 2020 and 2021 was 60% lower than the number recorded in 2018 and 2019, followed by a 30% smaller than expected increase in 2022 and 2023. Half of these procedures were conducted in the Southeast region of the country. The profile of patients was predominantly young women. Hospitalization time, costs, and mortality were stable over the years. Conclusions The volume of sympathectomies for treatment of hyperhidrosis in the SUS was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and remains in slow recovery. The regional distribution, demographic profile, hospitalization data, and mortality rate remained stable.