Use of telemedicine to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

摘要

In 2019, in Brazil, respiratory diseases accounted for morethan 1 million hospital admissions and cost the Brazilian’sUnified Health System (SUS) more than R$ 1 billion; incontrast, while diseases due to circulatory problems also ledto practically the same number of hospital admissions, theyimposed a three-fold higher economic burden. In the sameyear, in the State of S?o Paulo, respiratory diseases had amortality rate of approximately 13% (DATASUS), whichincreased to 52% if the patient was on mechanical ventilation(1). Pneumonia accounted for three-fold higher hospitaladmissions than acute myocardial infarction, resulting in15,137 deaths from pulmonary disease and 3,584 fromcardiovascular disease, demonstrating the high impact ofthis respiratory disease on the health system.