[Epidemiology of ageing in Northeastern Brazil: results of a household survey].
The population of Brazil is ageing very rapidly, and the care of the elderly is an emerging priority. Up to this date, there is no comprehensive study addressing the profile of the elderly in Northeastern Brazil. The objective is to compile the multidimensional profile of the elderly residents in a metropolitan area of Northeastern Brazil.



Six hundred sixty-seven elderly (60 years and over), residents in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, constituting a multistage random sample stratified by socioeconomic status. The data was gathered by household survey using a multidimensional functional assessment questionnaire.



The majority of the elderly were living in multigenerational households (75,3%). More than half (51,9%) lived without the spouse; 92,4% mentioned at least one disease; 26,4% were considered psychiatric cases; 47,7% showed loss of autonomy; 6,6% were hospitalized, and 61,4% used health services within the twelve and six months preceding the interview, respectively. The prevalence of multigenerational households, loss of autonomy and psychiatric morbidity were higher in the poorest areas.



The elderly population in the city of Fortaleza lives mainly in multigenerational households, with physical and mental morbidity rates particularly high in poor areas, they represent special concern in terms of burden for the social and health services in the next decades
Coelho Filho
J M
JM
Departamento de Medicina Clínica da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. epclinica@roadnet.com.br
Ramos
L R
LR
D000368:Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
Epidemiologia do envelhecimento no Nordeste do Brasil: resultados de inquérito domiciliar.