Análise da Distribuição de Ventiladores Pulmonares no Brasil: Comparação Pré e Pós-Pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of mechanical ventilators in sustaining patients with severe respiratory failure. This study analyzes the distribution of these devices in Brazil before and after the pandemic, emphasizing regional disparities. Public data on the number of ventilators in 2019, 2022 and 2025 were used, mapping their distribution through cartographic representations and Voronoi diagrams. The results indicate a significant increase in the number of ventilators nationwide but reveal persistent inequalities between states and municipalities, with some regions still maintaining a low ratio of ventilators per capita. It is concluded that, despite the improvements in hospital infrastructure, challenges remain in ensuring equitable distribution of mechanical ventilators, reinforcing the need for regulatory guidelines establishing minimum equipment parameters per population.