Prevalência de Diabetes Mellitus e fatores associados na população adulta e idosa da Região Nordeste: Dados da Pesquisa Nacional em Saúde (2019)

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is characterized as a metabolic disease that results from hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin dysfunction and action or both. DM is mainly classified as type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Objective: The present study sought to identify the prevalence of DM and associated factors in adults and elderly people in the Northeast region. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study, developed with secondary data from the National Health Survey (PNS), carried out in 2019. The demographic conditions, health status and access to health services of men and women over 18 years of age were investigated, residing in the Northeast of Brazil. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed, using the Chi-square test to verify the associations of these variables with the presence of self-reported DM, and the level of statistical significance was set at p ≤0.05. Results: The prevalence of DM was 8.6% in the scientific population, with the highest in Ceará (10.3%) and the lowest in Maranhão (7.0%). The majority of people with DM were women (63.2%), elderly (59.5%), with no education or with incomplete primary education (66.6%), non-white (75.1%), from urban areas ( 74.5%), with family income less than the minimum wage (64.6%). The factors age, sex, education, income, area of residence and health conditions, such as being overweight, self-perceived health status and most sought after health service were associated with DM. Conclusions: It was observed that DM is more susceptible among socially vulnerable population groups (elderly, women, non-white people, low education and low income) and influences the self-perception of the health status of the northeastern population. The continued importance of monitoring, formulating and implementing effective public policies and primary health care is emphasized.