Autopercepção de saúde em adolescentes, adultos e idosos

Abstract

Autopercepção de saúde em adolescentes, adultos e idososSelf-reported health status in adolescents, adults and the elderlyResumo O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a prevalência e os fatores associados a autopercepção de saúde regular/ruim em adolescentes, adultos e idosos. O estudo foi transversal, de base populacional, realizado em Pelotas. A amostra compreendeu 820 adolescentes, 2715 adultos e 385 idosos. Autopercepção de saúde foi investigada pela pergunta: "Como o Sr(a) considera sua saúde?" Características demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais e de saúde foram coletadas. Razões de prevalência ajustada foram estimadas pela Regressão de Poisson. A prevalência de autopercepção regular ou ruim de saúde foi de 12,1%, 22,3% e 49,4% entre adolescentes, adultos e idosos, respectivamente. Adolescentes com menor nível econômico e com escolaridade não adequada relataram pior autopercepção de saúde. Entre os adultos e idosos, relataram pior autopercepção de saúde: as mulheres, aqueles com maior faixa etária, menor nível econômico e os que possuíam alguma morbidade. Conclui-se que a população percebe saúde não apenas como ausência de doença, mas também como um constructo relacionado com aspectos sociais e demográficos, e em menor magnitude, com aspectos comportamentais. Abordagens em saúde devem superar o modelo simplista onde saúde é dicotomizada em doente e não-doente. Palavras-chaves Autopercepção de saúde, Prevalência, Fatores associados, Fatores de risco, Epidemiologia Abstract The scope of this study was to verify the prevalence and associated factors of self-reported health status as regular/bad. A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in Pelotas. The sample size comprised 820 adolescents, 2715 adults and 385 elderly. Self-reported health status was investigated via the question: "How do you rate your health?" Data on demographics, socioeconomic, behavioral, and health-related characteristics of individuals were gathered. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated through the Poisson regression. Prevalence of reporting health status as regular or bad was 12.1%, 22.3% and 49.4% in adolescents, adults and the elderly, respectively. Adolescents with lower economic status and schooling had higher prevalence of regular/bad selfreported health. Among adults and the elderly, women and older men with lower economic status and some morbidity presented a higher proportion of regular/bad self-reported health. In conclusion, individuals perceive health not only as the absence of a disease, but also as a construct related to social, demographic and, to a lesser extent, behavioral aspects. Health approaches must recognize this fact and transcend the simplistic model where health is dichotomized into the sick and the non-sick.

Association between self-reported health and sociodemographic characteristics with cardiovascular diseases in adults

“…A considerable proportion of individuals perceived their health as good (41.8%), corroborating another study with adults, adolescents and the elderly (6) . However, it should be noted that self-rated health is directly influenced by age, becoming an inverse relationship in which the older selfrate their health as worse (4) .…”

“…It should be noted that other factors have been shown to be associated with selfperception of regular / poor health, for example female (19) , lower economic class (6) and a frequency of greater than four visits per year to doctors (19) .…”

“…However, little has been investigated on the association of the perception that individuals have of their health with CVD (6) . This perception is a useful indicator of health care needs, as well as being highly sensitive with respect to social and organic factors that determine problems and inequalities in health.…”

“…Taking into account that health professionals and nurses can identify the self-perception of individuals with CVD in everyday care, one can also find health needs, the level of adherence to preventive practices and promotion or treatment, the presence of disease, and the risk of mortality (6) ; any of which may determine the practices to be implemented in monitoring health status and qualify the care management.…”

“…Thus, by providing an ease for raising this variable with the individuals, it is noted that through self-rated health it is possible to obtain important information about the population, especially because it has been identified by significant association between this variable and the different health indicators (6) . Contemplating the scarcity of studies evaluontemplating the scarcity of studies evaluthe scarcity of studies evaluated in general with the association of sociodemographic characteristics and self-perception of health with CVD raises the following research questions: Is there an association of sociodemographic characteristics and self-rated health with the presence of cardiovascular disease in adults?…”