Temporal analysis of the prevalence of chronic noncommunicable diseases and risk and protective factors by schooling level from 2006 to 2023

Abstract

The aim is to analyze the trends in the prevalence of selected indicators of morbidity and risk and protective factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Brazilian adult population between 2006 and 2023, according to education levels. This is a time-series study using data from the Risk and Protective Factors Surveillance System for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey. A linear regression model was used for trend analysis, and Poisson regression was applied to assess differences in 2023. A declining trend was observed in the prevalence of smoking and bean consumption, while an increasing trend was found in leisure-time physical activity, overweight, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes across all educational levels. Excessive alcohol consumption, intake of fruits and vegetables, consumption of protective foods, and physical activity were higher among those with higher education levels. Conversely, more educated populations presented lower prevalence rates of smoking, bean consumption, insufficient physical activity, hypertension, and diabetes were observed in this group.