Abstract

LIMA E COSTA, Maria Fernanda F.; GUERRA, Henrique L.; BARRETO, Sandhi M.  and  GUIMARAES, Renato Maia. Diagnosis of the health condition of the elderly population in Brazil: a study of mortality and admissions in public hospitals. Inf. Epidemiol. Sus [online]. 2000, vol.9, n.1, pp.43-50. ISSN 0104-1673.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S0104-16732000000100003.

The objective of the present work is to make a diagnosis of the health of the aging population in Brazil using the national database on mortality (1980, 1991, 1996) and hospitalizations (1995, 1996, 1997). Mortality rates, proportional mortality and hospitalizations are presented according to regions, and the country as a whole, by sex and age group. Analysis of the mortality rates indicate an excess mortality of the male population and a greater reduction of mortality for those aged 70+ years. Diseases of the circulatory system, neoplasms and diseases of the respiratory system were the main causes of death in the study period. Around 50% of the hospitalizations between 1995 and 1997 were caused by diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems. Hospitalizations of the aged population account for 23% of the public expenditure for health care in the country with little variation among regions. Our results show that public policies to promote the health of the aged and to provide health care to the aged are not issues for the future but a present need for the country.

Keywords : Aging; Health Diagnosis; Mortality; Hospitalization.

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