Abstract

The presence of multimorbidity is considered a public health problem, responsible for a great pressure on health services. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity and its association to the use of health services by Brazilian elderly people. Method: A cross-sectional, quantitative study with population-based survey data (PNS-2013). The sample consisted of 11,177 Brazilians aged 60 years or older. Multimorbidity was considered as a dependent variable and the use of health services as independent. The results were analyzed by the chi-square test. The sample consisted mostly of individuals aged among 60 and 69 years (55.8%), men (59.2%), white (47.5%), married (43.0%), who studied up to primary education (37.6%) and with an income of less than 1 minimum wage (45.5%). The prevalence of multimorbidity was 46.9%. Elderly people with multimorbidity used health services significantly more, having attended 4 or more medical appointments (p<0.001), required hospitalization (p<0.001) and needed emergency care at home (p<0.001). Brazilian elderly people have a high prevalence of multimorbidity and this condition significantly affects the demand for health services, whether primary and secondary, such as medical consultations and emergency and tertiary care, such as hospitalization.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call