Hospital discharge rate for intestinal invagination between 2021-2024 in Chile

Abstract

Introduction: Intestinal intussusception is a significant cause of intestinal obstruction affecting both pediatric and adult populations, it remains one of the most frequent surgical emergencies in childhood. The limited national epidemiological information, particularly in adults, along with the severity of its complications, motivated the development of this study. Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study was conducted to determine the hospital discharge rate for intussusception in Chile during the 2021-2024 period, using data from the Department of Health Statistics and Information of Chile. Demographic and hospitalization variables were analyzed. Result: A total of 928 hospital discharges due to intestinal intussusception were recorded. The overall hospital discharge rate for the period was 1,26 per 100.000 inhabitants, with rates of 1,41 in men and 1,11 in women. The 0-4-year-old group showed the highest rate (16,8 per 100.000 inhabitants). The average hospital stay was 3,53 days. Discussion: The hospital discharge rate showed interannual variations of limited magnitude during the study period. The predominance of discharges among children under five years of age is consistent with what has been reported in the international literature, while the slight increase observed in older adults has also been described in recent population-based studies and systematic reviews. Conclusion: This study provides updated national epidemiological information on hospital discharges due to intestinal intussusception in Chile, useful to contextualize its hospital burden and as a descriptive baseline for future research.