Abstract
This article aims to analyze the national scientific production on chronic diseases related to elderly, published in the last five years in the LILACS database, using the following keywords: elderly; aging; senility; chronic diseases; Alzheimer; dementias. This is a descriptive study, with bibliometric approach. Of the 1,255 units found, 50 were selected and analyzed after applying the inclusion criteria. Most publications on chronic disease were identified in 2011; the degree of doctor was predominant among the authors; the most commonly used mode of study was original papers; the most common area of ​​knowledge is multidisciplinary; among data collection instruments, the questionnaire was the most frequent; the magazine with most papers was the Brazilian Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology; elderly were the most predominant group among the participants investigated; the study region and link of the most highlighted author was the southeast region. It is noteworthy that scientific production on chronic diseases related to elderly people in Brazil is still in its infancy, suggesting the need for more research, particularly in the context of health promotion and prevention of disabilities that allow guidance to managers and health professionals staff.
Highlights
Brazil is experiencing a significant change in the population profile; the result of a process of demographic transition, mainly due to the progressive aging of the population unleashing a significant increase in the number of individuals aged 60 or more in the country
IBGE data for 2011 shows that Brazil is aging rapidly, reaching 20,590,599 of elderly, or approximately 10.8% of the total population. [1, 2]. In this scenario of aging and longevity, chronic diseases are progressing and has attracted the attention of the current health system, which gives priority to meet the health needs of citizens and, as such, must operate in full accordance with the state of health of users. It is understood as chronic diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), such that are caused mainly by irreversible pathophysiological changes presented for extended time, producing residual disability and requiring treatment and specialized care for rehabilitation
Given the above, considering the relevance of the discussion on the topic for health professionals and researchers, we have tried in this research, answer the following question: What is the trend in the scientific literature about chronic diseases that are prevalent in elderly people in the past five years? In this perspective, this study aimed to identify the Brazilian scientific literature about chronic diseases related to elderly at the set time
Summary
Brazil is experiencing a significant change in the population profile; the result of a process of demographic transition, mainly due to the progressive aging of the population unleashing a significant increase in the number of individuals aged 60 or more in the country. [1, 2] In this scenario of aging and longevity, chronic diseases are progressing and has attracted the attention of the current health system, which gives priority to meet the health needs of citizens and, as such, must operate in full accordance with the state of health of users. It is understood as chronic diseases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), such that are caused mainly by irreversible pathophysiological changes presented for extended time, producing residual disability and requiring treatment and specialized care for rehabilitation. To define the profile and evaluating statistics of chronicities in the elderly can serve as a model to develop more effective health promotion and disease prevention strategies. [5, 6]
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