Prevalence of multimorbidity and associated factors among older people in rural Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Objective to identify the prevalence of multimorbidity in elderly people living in rural areas and associated sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical-therapeutic factors. Method cross-sectional study, conducted with randomly selected elderly residents in the rural area of Araçagi, Paraíba, Brazil, linked to the Family Health Strategy. The dependent variable of the study was multimorbidity, understood as the presence of two or more chronic conditions in a single individual. Data were collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire and a form about self-reported health problems, addressing 32 conditions. Univariate and bivariate statistics and Poisson regression were used in the data analysis, considering significant when p-value <0.05. Results 360 elderly subjects participated in the study, with a 54.2% (95%CI: 49,0–59,3) prevalence of multimorbidity. After regression, it was identified that female gender (PR=1,16; 95%CI: 1,09–1,25), age ≥70 years (PR=1,08; 95%CI: 1,01–1,15), overweight (PR=1,19; 95%CI: 1,10–1,29), access to treated and piped water (PR=1,09; 95%CI: 1,00–1,18), smoking history (PR=1,10; 95%CI: 1,03–1,17), not using alcohol (PR=1,13; 95%CI: 1,05–1,22), chronic pain (PR=1,18; 95%CI: 1,10–1,26), hospital as first choice of health service (PR=1,12; 95%CI: 1,03–1,21) and medical consultation in the last year (PR=1,19; 95%CI: 1,11–1,27) were factors associated with multimorbidity. Conclusion the study revealed a high prevalence of multimorbidity and its associated factors. Finally, it becomes feasible to plan measures that improve the health condition of these individuals and think of possibilities to promote healthy aging.