Chronic diseases in adults and elderly men: To prevent or minimize damage? population-based study in campinas, são paulo, Brazil

The aim was to evaluate demographic and socioeconomic conditions, health behaviors and other health indicators in the presence of chronic diseases in adults and elderly men. This is a population-based cross-sectional study, conducted in 2008 in Campinas/SP, Brazil. Data are from the Health Survey of Campinas (ISACamp 2008), involving 1063 adult men 20 years or older. The associations between the dependent variable presence of chronic diseases and the independent variables were evaluated using Poisson regression. The prevalence of chronic diseases was 31.5% (95%CI: 27.1 to 36.3) in 449 men between 20 and 59 years and 73% (95%CI: 68.5 to 77.6) in the male population with 60 years or more. Among adult men, the factors associated with chronic diseases were: age, obesity, three or more complaints/health symptoms. In the elderly, the presence of chronic diseases has been associated with chronic diseases: lack of occupation, being an ex-smoker, standard short sleep (until six hours), worse self-rated health, obesity, morbidity in the last 15 days and two or more complaints/health symptoms. Although the elderly have a higher number of factors associated with chronic diseases, it is necessary to pay attention to the factors that arise in earlier ages and remain among the elderly (obesity and complaints/health symptoms). Special attention should be given to obesity, a relevant risk factor for chronic diseases and a major cause of deaths that can be avoided if preventive measures are aimed at the younger population, minimizing the need for harm reduction in old age.