Hospitalizations due to Alzheimer's disease in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic: an update on frequency, mortality, and costs.

Hospitalizations related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) impose a growing burden on health systems, but recent, nationally representative estimates for Brazil are limited. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of hospital admissions due to AD in Brazil from 2018 to 2024. Methods: Revision (ICD-10) codes G30.0-G30.9 and F00.0-F00.9. Variables comprised sex, age group, race/color, admission type (urgent/elective), in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and hospital costs. Temporal trends were evaluated with linear regression. Results: From 2018 to 2024, 11,212 AD-related hospitalizations were recorded; 79.4% were urgent. The Southeast had the highest absolute number (47.8%), followed by the South (25.1%), Northeast (17.2%), Midwest (6.5%), and North (3.4%). Females accounted for 65% of admissions and 64.7% of in-hospital deaths. Older adults, especially those ≥80 years, represented most hospitalizations (59.3%) and deaths (69.7%). Total hospital expenditures exceeded R$ 14 million, with the Southeast concentrating >60% of national costs. No significant linear trend was detected in annual rates. Conclusion: Urgent admissions comprised the majority of AD hospitalizations nationwide, with the Southeast presenting the highest numbers. The predominance of older female patients and high in-hospital mortality underscore the need for targeted clinical and public health strategies. Rising expenditures reinforce investment in health infrastructure and long-term dementia-care policies in Brazil.