Prevalence of chronic diseases and ownership of health insurance among the elderly: comparison of data from the Brazilian National Health Survey of 2013 and 2019

Abstract

Information about the prevalence of specific chronic diseases and the ownership of a health plan can help size and monitor care demands. This study aimed to estimate and compare the prevalence of chronic diseases among the elderly, according to the possession of a health plan in 2013 and 2019. This is a population-based cross-sectional study with data from elderly people (age ≥ 60 years) from the Brazilian National Health Survey (2013: n = 11,177; 2019: n = 22,728). The prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated, according to health plan ownership (medical and/or dental) and by year. In the period, increased prevalence was observed for hypertension (PR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.06-1.16), diabetes (PR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.01-1.24), heart disease (PR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1.05-1.39), stroke (PR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.04-1.54), back pain (PR = 1.14; 95%CI: 1.05-1.23), hypercholesterolemia (PR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.01-1.18), and depression (PR = 1.23; 95%CI: 1.05-1.43) among those without a health plan. In 2019, arthritis/ rheumatism (PR = 1.21; 95%CI: 1,03-1,43), hypercholesterolemia (PR = 1.13; 95%CI: 1.01-1.26), and depression (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.03-1.53) increased among elderly patients with a health plan. The findings showed differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases according to health plan ownership and an increase for some diseases in the period. Health promotion policies with an emphasis on reducing modifiable risk factors need to be maintained and intensified. Particularly for the elderly population, the importance of expanding actions focused on case tracking and early diagnosis, prevention and control of complications that favor equity in care is highlighted.