Multimorbidade por Doenças Crônicas não Transmissíveis em Idosos do Nordeste: prevalência e fatores associados.

Abstract

In Brazil, it is estimated that the elderly will represent 29.4% of the population in 2030. Morbidity and mortality due to chronic non-communicable diseases is increasing and in a national setting and is characterized as a public health problem. In the Northeast, there is little research that investigates the simultaneity of this group of diseases, especially in the elderly population. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity due to chronic noncommunicable diseases in the elderly in the Northeast region of Brazil and to analyze its association with sociodemographic, behavioral and anthropometric factors Methods: a cross- sectional study with 3141 elderly residents in the Northeast region participating in the national health survey. The outcome variable was multimorbity, measured in dichotomous form, and the variables of exposure were sociodemographic, behavioral and anthropometric factors. Descriptive and association analyzes were performed using Pearson's chi-square test and unadjusted and confounding-adjusted logistic regression models. The measure of association was Odds Ratio (OR). It was adopted at a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 23.7%. (P = 0.019), marital status (p = 0.019), skin color (p = 0.006), age group (p value = 0.006), bivariate analysis BMI (value p <0.001), smoking (p value <0.001) and alcoholism (p value <0.001). (OR = 1.33, p = 0.002), being 80 years old or older (OR = 1.35, p = 0.019) and overweight elderly (OR = 1.37 p = 0.001) , presented greater chances of multimorbity. The color of brown skin (OR = 0.79, p = 0.013); (OR = 0.71, p = 0.017), and alcohol consumption (OR = 0.6, p <0.001) were protective factors. Conclusion: It is concluded that the prevalence in the elderly in the Northeast was considerable and expected for the region, and may reflect negatively on the quality of life and occurrence of complications, such as disability. This knowledge is useful for strengthening and expanding health promotion, prevention and surveillance services and actions, with a focus on these priority groups (women, octogenarians and overweight and obese people).