User profiles and demand for physiotherapy in the Brazilian Unified Health System: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Introduction: The Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), the largest public health system in the world, is structured into three levels of care. Currently, one of the biggest challenges it faces is the waiting lists for specialized secondary care, where there is a greater concentration of physiotherapists, including in Porto Alegre. Objective: To outline the profile of the physiotherapy services and waiting list in the specialized care network of Porto Alegre. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed outpatient physiotherapy services in Porto Alegre during 2022–2023, services provided in public and SUS-affiliated facilities, recorded in the municipality’s Appointment Management System. Data from the waiting list were included. The dataset included information on sex, age, race, International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes, and the number of completed sessions. The identified ICD-10 codes were grouped into their 22 chapters, with the five most prevalent categories detailed. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were conducted using SPSS 22.0. Results: A total of 791,633 sessions were performed in 2022 and 2023 for 41,699 patients. Of these, 68.2% were female, and 50.7% were older adults. Among the ICD-10 chapters, the five most frequent were Chapter XIII (67.0%), Chapter XIX (16.6%), Chapter VI (4.9%), Chapter XVIII (4.8%), and Chapter IX (2.4%). Majority of patients received between 1-20 sessions, with the median varying according to ICD-10. Conclusion: The highest demand for physical therapy services was among females, older adults, and individuals with musculoskeletal or connective tissue disorders, with back pain and osteoarthritis being the most prevalent conditions.