What is the burden of multimorbidity and the factors associated with its occurrence in elderly Brazilians?

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity in elderly people and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and anthropometry. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health Survey, 2019. A total of 22,728 elderly individuals from all 27 Brazilian states were randomly selected. Poisson regression models with robust variance were employed, and a significance level of 5% was adopted. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 51.6% (95% CI: 50.4-52.7), with the highest estimates observed in the South and Southeast. Multimorbidity was associated with being female (aPR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27-1.39), being 80 years old or older (aPR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05-1.19), having low education (aPR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.07-1.25), past cigarette use (aPR = 1.16; 95% CI: 1.11-1.21), insufficient physical activity (aPR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06-1.21), and screen use for 3 hours or more per day (aPR = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.08-1.18). CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity affects more than half of the elderly population in Brazil and is associated with social, demographic, and behavioral factors.

Multimorbidity due to chronic noncommunicable diseases in older adults: a population-based study / Multimorbidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em idosos: estudo de base populacional

Abstract Objective: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity arising from chronic noncommunicable diseases among older residents of the northeast of Brazil and to analyze its association with sociodemographic, behavioral and anthropometric factors. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 3,141 older participants of the National Health Survey (2013). The dependent variable was multimorbidity, and the independent variables were sociodemographic, behavioral and anthropometric indicators. Descriptive, bivariate analyzes and logistic regression models were applied. Results: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 23.7%, with the state of Alagoas having the highest prevalence (27.2%). The occurrence of multimorbidity was associated with the female sex (OR=1.33; p=0.002), age over 80 years (OR=1.35; p=0.019) and being overweight (OR =1.37 p= 0.001). The protective factors were brown skin color (OR=0.79; p=0.013) and low weight (OR =0.71; p=0.017). Conclusion: The prevalence of multimorbidity in community-dwelling older adults in the northeast of Brazil was almost one quarter of the study population, with the state of Alagoas having the highest prevalence. Sex, age, skin color and being overweight were associated with the outcome. Knowledge of these factors can guide health care in the prevention, control and reduction of complications of these diseases, and support the strengthening of health education strategies and policies.

Resumo Objetivo: estimar a prevalência de multimorbidade por doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em idosos residentes no Nordeste brasileiro e analisar sua associação com fatores sociodemográficos, comportamentais e antropométricos. Método: estudo transversal, com 3.141 idosos, participantes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013. A variável dependente foi multimorbidade e as variáveis independentes foram indicadores sociodemográficos, comportamentais e antropométricos. Realizaram-se análises descritivas, bivariadas e modelos de regressão logística. Resultados: A prevalência de multimorbidade foi 23,7%, sendo o estado de Alagoas o que apresentou maior prevalência desse desfecho (27,2%). Associaram-se à ocorrência de multimorbidade: sexo feminino (OR=1,33; p=0,002), idade superior a 80 anos (OR=1,35; p=0,019) e excesso de peso (sobrepeso ou obesidade) (OR=1,37 p=0,001). Foram identificados como fatores de proteção a cor parda (OR=0,79; p=0,013) e o baixo peso (OR=0,71; p=0,017). Conclusão: A prevalência de multimorbidade em idosos que vivem em comunidade, na região Nordeste do Brasil, foi de quase um quarto da população do estudo, destacando-se o estado de Alagoas com maior prevalência. O sexo, a faixa etária, a cor de pele e o excesso de peso se associaram ao desfecho. O conhecimento desses fatores pode nortear o cuidado em saúde quanto à prevenção, controle e redução de complicações dessas doenças e agravos, além de sugerir o fortalecimento de estratégias e políticas de educação em saúde.