Multimorbidity and health care of community health workers in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2019: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess health conditions, health care and lifestyle habits of community health workers (CHW) in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using baseline data from an intervention study. Biochemical, anthropometric and hemodynamic examinations and interviews were carried out between October 2018 and March 2019 in Vitória. Appropriate statistical tests, in accordance with the sample design, were performed using SPSS software version 21.0, adopting p<0.05. Results: We assessed 262 CHWs with a mean age of 46.1±9.3 years. High prevalence of prediabetes (22.9%), diabetes mellitus (17.2%), hypertension (37.0%), obesity (39.8%), hypercholesterolemia (57.3%), hypertriglyceridemia (27.1%), multimorbidity (40.8%), physical inactivity (60.9%) and use of anxiolytics/antidepressants (22.5%) was found. Some 40% of the CHWs had three or more morbidities. Conclusion: High percentages of chronic diseases, multimorbidity, sedentary lifestyle and use of anxiolytics/antidepressants were found in CHWs in Vitória.