Trend in hospitalizations for conditions sensitive to primary care in Pelotas, Brazil, from 2000 to 2021

This article aims to describe the characteristics of hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (HACSC) in the municipality of Pelotas regarding occurrence by sex, age group and main causes in the period from 2000 to 2021. Additionally, a trend analysis of the HACSC in the municipality was carried out, comparing it with the rest of Rio Grande do Sul, its association with public expenditure per capita on health and with the population coverage of FHS. Ecological study using the ambulatory care sensitive conditions list from the Ministry of Health available in the Hospital Information System of the Unified Health System. Information on health expenditure was obtained from the Public Health BudgetInformation System. FHS coverage was available at the Primary Care Department. A decrease in HACSC was found in Pelotas and in the rest of the state. HACSC were more frequent in people aged 60 years or older. The main cause of hospitalization was heart failure. In Pelotas, FHS coverage and health expenditure were associated with HACSC. Despite the measures applied from 2017, policies implemented previously, the increase in health spending and the expansion of coverage may have influenced the decrease in HACSC.