The overall bed occupancy rate in intensive care units (NICU), taking into account all beds: adults, children and newborns, exceeds 90% in the three regions of Santa Catarina. With 206 vacancies in the state, the state’s overall bed occupancy rate is 83.9%. Of the 1,283 active ICU beds in public hospitals, 1,077 are occupied.

Santa Catarina has 206 available ICU beds – Photo: Disclosure/ND

The data is included in the SUS ICU beds dashboard which is updated daily by the SES (Secretary of State for Health) and this Thursday (14) it was updated at 11am. The figures are not absolute given that the situation changes. This is often due to patient turnover, as the SES explains in a message published on the panel: “The occupancy rate is practically lower than the actual occupancy rate due to patient turnover,” the message says.

According to the Ministry of Health, there is no specific reason for the high demand for intensive care unit beds in Santa Catarina. The overload of beds is caused, according to the ministry team, by patients with various diseases.

In the regions of the UK, more than 90% of intensive care beds are occupied

Of the three regions with the highest occupancy rates, West Santa Catarina has the highest number of filled vacancies. Of the 85 operating beds in hospitals in the region, 83 were occupied, with only two available beds. As a result, the occupancy rate is 97.6%.

Next comes Planalto Norte, where 94.7% of beds are occupied and there are 15 vacancies in hospitals in the region. The third region with the highest occupancy is Greater Florianópolis, where 94.5% of beds are occupied and 12 vacancies in intensive care units.

On the other hand, the Southern region has the lowest occupancy rate, with only 65.7% of beds occupied. Another 59 are available in hospitals in the region.

Next comes Vale do Itajaí, where 69.8% of intensive care units are occupied. There are 75 available beds, the highest number of vacancies in the state. In the Midwest and Serra Santa Catarina, the occupancy rate is 82.5%, with 32 vacancies. In Foz do Rio Itajaí, 87.9% of beds are occupied and there are 11 vacancies.

In three regions of the SC, more than 90% of intensive care beds are occupied – Photo: SES Leitos/Disclosure/ND

There are no vacancies in the adult intensive care unit in two regions

If we analyze only ICU beds reserved for adults, the situation becomes even more alarming. Well, there are no vacancies in two regions: Santa Catarina Occidental and Vale do Rio Itajaí.

Of the 861 adult intensive care unit beds in Santa Catarina, 780 are occupied and there are only 81 beds available. The state’s overall adult ICU bed occupancy rate is 90.5%.

The Southern region has the lowest adult ICU occupancy rate, with 74.5% of beds occupied.

Of the 81 vacancies available in the adult intensive care unit, 29 are in the Southern region; 17 in the Midwest and Serra Santa Catarina; 22 in the Itajaí Valley; seven in Greater Florianopolis and six in Planalto Norte and Nordeste.

Adult ICU bed occupancy in PC – Photo: SES beds/Disclosure/ND

Health warns of rising Covid cases and deaths

Although the increase in intensive care unit beds does not have a specific reason, since they are occupied by patients with various diseases, Covid-19 is again a concern in Santa Catarina. This comes as Dive (State Office of Epidemiological Surveillance) has issued an alert regarding the rise in cases and deaths from the disease in the state. At least 12 patients are hospitalized due to the disease, according to the bed dashboard.

In Santa Catarina, according to Dive data updated last Monday (11), the number of deaths increased between October (21) and November (43). This year, 293 people have died from the disease in the state.

According to Dive, those hospitalized are mostly elderly patients with underlying health conditions or people who have not yet completed their vaccination schedule with delayed booster shots.

Dive also notes that the state has seen an increase in cases. More than 48 thousand cases of Covid-19 have already been confirmed this year. An increase in diagnoses has been recorded, according to the department, since the end of October.

From October to November this year alone, 17,204 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the Santa Catarina territory. Despite the rise in confirmations, the number of active cases fell from 7,708 in October to 6,519 in November. Hospitalizations also fell for serious cases, falling from 520 in October to 403 in November.

Catharinenses need to step up their care

Warning of an increase in the number of cases, Dive advises the population of Santa Catarina to strengthen preventive care. Therefore, this highlights the importance of vaccination and updating booster doses. This is one of the main precautions suggested by Dive. He also advises covering your nose and mouth with your forearm when coughing or sneezing.

“All measures to contain the contagiousness of the disease continue to be recommended, and hand hygiene must be maintained at all times. If it is not possible to wash with soap and water, it is important to use a gel containing 70% alcohol,” warns Fabio Gaudenzi de Faria, director of sanitary supervision.