Aline Pinto Marques

Inequalities in healthy life expectancy by Brazilian geographic regions: findings from the National Health Survey, 2013

BackgroundThe demographic shift and epidemiologic transition in Brazil have drawn attention to ways of measuring population health that complement studies of mortality. In this paper, we investigate regional differences in healthy life expectancy based on information from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2013.MethodsIn the survey, a three-stage cluster sampling (census tracts, households and individuals) with stratification of the primary sampling units and random selection in all stages was used to select 60,202 Brazilian adults (18 years and over). Healthy life expectancies (HLE) were estimated by Sullivan’s method according to sex, age and geographic region, using poor self-rated health for defining unhealthy status. Logistic regression models were used to investigate socioeconomic and regional inequalities in poor self-rated health, after controlling by sex and age.ResultsWide disparities by geographic region were found with the worst indicators in the North and Northeast regions, whether considering educational attainment, material deprivation, or health care utilization. Life expectancy at birth for women and men living in the richest regions was 5 years longer than for those living in the less wealthy regions. Modeling the variation across regions for poor self-rated health, statistically significant effects (p < 0.001) were found for the North and Northeast when compared to the Southeast, even after controlling for age, sex, diagnosis of at least one non-communicable chronic disease, and schooling or socioeconomic class. Marked regional inequalities in HLE were found, with the loss of healthy life much higher among residents of the poorest regions, especially among the elderly.ConclusionsBy combining data on self-rated health status and mortality in a single indicator, Healthy Life Expectancy, this study demonstrated the excess burden of poor health experienced by populations in the less wealthy regions of Brazil. To mitigate the effects of social exclusion, the development of strategies at the regional level is essential to provide health care to all persons in need, reduce risk exposures, support prevention policies for adoption of healthy behaviors. Such strategies should prioritize population groups that will experience the greatest impact from such interventions.

Hospitalization of older adults due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions

OBJECTIVE To analyze the temporal evolution of the hospitalization of older adults due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions according to their structure, magnitude and causes. METHODS Cross-sectional study based on data from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System and from the Primary Care Information System, referring to people aged 60 to 74 years living in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Souhteastern Brazil. The proportion and rate of hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions were calculated, both the global rate and, according to diagnoses, the most prevalent ones. The coverage of the Family Health Strategy and the number of medical consultations attended by older adults in primary care were estimated. To analyze the indicators’ impact on hospitalizations, a linear correlation test was used. RESULTS We found an intense reduction in hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions for all causes and age groups. Heart failure, cerebrovascular diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases concentrated 50.0% of the hospitalizations. Adults older than 69 years had a higher risk of hospitalization due to one of these causes. We observed a higher risk of hospitalization among men. A negative correlation was found between the hospitalizations and the indicators of access to primary care. CONCLUSIONS Primary healthcare in the state of Rio de Janeiro has been significantly impacting the hospital morbidity of the older population. Studies of hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions can aid the identification of the main causes that are sensitive to the intervention of the health services, in order to indicate which actions are more effective to reduce hospitalizations and to increase the population’s quality of life.

Avoidability of deaths from chronic illnesses in elderly individuals in São Paulo, Brazil

Avoidable causes of death have become an important indicator for evaluating health services. Such deaths would not occur if there were adequate prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment and the adoption of appropriate technologies. This article analyzes the pattern and magnitude of avoidable causes of death for the principal causes of death among elderly individuals up to 74 years of age, by gender, in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The study further estimated the impact of avoidable causes of death on life expectancy among the elderly, and 62.5% of the deaths among elderly up to 74 years in Sao Paulo were due to these causes. The principal avoidable causes of death constituted 82.6% of all avoidable deaths, featuring hypertensions and tobacco-associated tumors. Life expectancy at 60 would increase by 20% if these deaths were avoided. Male excess mortality was observed in nearly all of the avoidable causes of death analyzed here, which could be related to greater exposure to risk factors and less use of health services by men. Prevention and health promotion measures should take these sharp gender differences into account.Avoidable causes of death have become an important indicator for evaluating health services. Such deaths would not occur if there were adequate prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment and the adoption of appropriate technologies. This article analyzes the pattern and magnitude of avoidable causes of death for the principal causes of death among elderly individuals up to 74 years of age, by gender, in São Paulo State, Brazil. The study further estimated the impact of avoidable causes of death on life expectancy among the elderly, and 62.5% of the deaths among elderly up to 74 years in São Paulo were due to these causes. The principal avoidable causes of death constituted 82.6% of all avoidable deaths, featuring hypertensions and tobacco-associated tumors. Life expectancy at 60 would increase by 20% if these deaths were avoided. Male excess mortality was observed in nearly all of the avoidable causes of death analyzed here, which could be related to greater exposure to risk factors and less use of health services by men. Prevention and health promotion measures should take these sharp gender differences into account.

Metodologia integrada de acompanhamento de políticas públicas e situação de saúde: o SISAP-Idoso

Resumo O artigo trata da estrategia de construcao do Sistema de Indicadores de Saude e Acompanhamento de Politicas do Idoso (SISAP-Idoso). O Sistema pretende articular a producao de informacoes em saude com a decisao politico-institucional, de modo a servir como instrumento de gestao em saude do idoso. Seu foco e suprir a necessidade de informacoes para o planejamento e o controle de politicas e programas dos gestores municipais do Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS). Apresentam-se as metodologias de criacao da Matriz Conceitual por Dimensoes de Saude e da Matriz Conceitual para Acompanhamento de Politicas e Programas. A primeira sistematiza um painel de indicadores para o diagnostico da situacao de saude da populacao idosa, procedimento sem o qual nao e possivel planejar adequadamente acoes em saude. A segunda seleciona indicadores para monitorar a implementacao e avaliar os resultados de politicas e programas de saude do idoso. O Sistema se mostra uma importante ferramenta de suporte da formulacao e acompanhamento de programas de saude, principalmente no nivel municipal. Alem disso, e uma poderosa ferramenta de controle social e de empoderamento da populacao. A incorporacao plena do SISAP-Idoso depende da consolidacao do uso de informacao e de indicadores no processo de politicas publicas.