Multimorbity in elderly municipal of northeast Brazil: prevalence and associated factors

Abstract

To estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with the presence of multimorbidity in the elderly population of the municipality of Ibicuí - BA. This study was carried out with 310 elderly individuals, aged > 60 years old, of both sexes, living in the municipality of Ibicuí - BA. Sociodemographic information and personal information, living conditions, life habits, body mass, stature and presence of multimorbidity were collected. The descriptive analysis was used and multimorbidity prevalence ratios were estimated according to variables of interest. As a measure of statistical significance, the qui-quadrado de Pearson test was used, adopting p≤0.05. The multivariate analysis hierarchized by Poisson regression was employed after bivariate analysis to select the independent variables (p<0.20). The general prevalence of multimorbidity was 80.3%. The hierarchical multi-varied analysis showed the variables of gender and monthly income (p<1.5) were significantly related to the problem. The results reveal also a high prevalence of multimorbidity in the studied population. Mainly women and the poorest suffer from it. It is necessary to redirect the planning of health actions in the municipality, with changes in the health care policy of the elderly, and especially in the social support networks that support these individuals, considering that in this locality the presence of multimorbidity was related to socio-economic grounds.