Epidemiology of the use of inferior vena cava filters in Brazil between 2008 and 2019

Abstract

Purpose: to study the totality of inferior vena cava filters placed in the Brazilian Public Health System, which insures more than 160 million Brazilians, trends by geographic region and in-hospital deaths after filter placements and also due to pulmonary embolism between 2008 and 2019. Patients and methods: public and open data regarding in-hospital mortality due to pulmonary embolism and all inferior vena cava filters placed in Brazilian public hospitals between January 2008 and December 2019 were extracted from the Brazilian Public Health System databases. Results: 9108 inferior vena cava filters were placed, 98.18% of which was therapeutic. There was an overall increasing use of these devices, statistically significant for all Brazilian regions, except the North. In-hospital mortality rate in patients who received inferior vena cava filters was 6.21%, stable over time. We observed an upward trend in in-hospital mortality rate due to pulmonary embolism, statistically significant for all Brazilian regions, except the North. Conclusion: We observed a low standardized rate of inferior vena cava filter placements in Brazil between 2008 and 2019, but with a trend towards an increasing trend use. Almost all indications for filter placement were therapeutic. In hospital mortality in patients receiving inferior vena cava filters was high, 6.21%, and stable over time, whereas the trend of in-hospital mortality rate due to pulmonary embolism is increasing. Our findings were heterogeneous across Brazilian regions and contrasted to those observed in the USA, which is likely due to cultural and socioeconomic factors.