Ivan Augusto Cecílio e Silva

The objective of this study is to analyze the socioeconomic, demographic and health factors associated with the rates of bariatric surgeries performed by the public health system (SUS) in adults (18 to 65 years old), in the Federative Units (UF's) of Brazil, in the period from 2008 to 2018. For this purpose, the data panel (traditional and with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors) and count panel (Poisson and Negative Binomial) models were used. Socioeconomic factors included the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and the average years of study. Life expectancy represented the demographic factor. The health factors used were public expenditure on health (real) per capita, rate of digestive tract surgeons attending at SUS, rate of accredited hospitals in High Complexity Assistance (AAC) for obese and prevalence of morbid obesity in adults. From the estimates, it was observed that the rate of bariatric surgeries was positively associated with the rates of hospitals accredited in high complexity care for obesity, digestive tract surgeons and with life expectancy. The evidence was ambiguous, that is, not significant in some models for socioeconomic factors (real GDP per capita and average years of study) and health indicators (public expenditure on (real) health per capita and the prevalence of morbid obesity). It was concluded that the factors addressed explained the behavior of these rates and their regional differences over time. Actions are needed to improve the formulation and coordination of effective (evidence-based) policies aimed at bariatric surgeries in the UF's and that value the quality of life and human capital of each population group.