Prevalência da multimorbidade e associação com fatores pessoais e incapacidade na população acima de 18 anos no município de Santa Crus/RN: estudo MDS-Brasil

Abstract

The term multimorbidity encompasses the coexistence of 2 or more health conditions in the same individual and is an emerging issue for public health. Although studies have focused on older populations, a growing debate has been evidenced in younger individuals, while the relationships between multimorbidity and personal factors and disability are not consensual in the literature. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of self-reported multimorbidity in the adult population and its association with disability and personal factors in the city of Santa Cruz, using data from the MDS-Brasil instrument. This is an observational, cross-sectional, population-based study with a quantitative design. Individuals aged 18 years or older, of both sexes, regardless of level of education, with or without disabilities, who lived in the city of Santa Cruz, Rio Grande do Norte, were included. In the population survey, information was collected on personal factors (age, sex, income, education, and race/color) and on levels of disability (absence, mild, moderate, and severe) through three domains of functionality: mobility, body functions, and activity/participation of the MDS-Brazil instrument. A total of 504 interviews were analyzed. The results showed a higher proportion of females (76.4%), with the majority being elderly (35.5%), married, and with low education. A prevalence of 60.6% of self-reported multimorbidity was observed. Although multimorbidity is recognized as a health problem in elderly people, the findings of this study reveal the presence of the condition in young and middle-aged people. The personal factors that are related to the presence of multimorbidity are age over 60 years, being a woman, and being married. An association was found between multimorbidity and level of disability in the aspects of mobility, body functions and activities and participation, expressing how multimorbidity is complex and needs to be managed to reduce levels of disability over time, especially when affecting younger individuals.