Disability Trends of the Elderly in Brazil, 1998–2013

Luciana C. Alves , Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Tiago S. Alexandre, Universidade Federal de São Carlos
Danan Gu, United Nations

To examine changes over 15 years (1998–2013) of elderly disability in Brazil between 1998 and 2013. We used information from cross-sectional household data from 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013. Data came from two surveys: Brazilian National Household Survey and National Health Survey. A random sample of 112,336 individuals aged 60 years or older were investigated. The dependent variable was disability in activities of daily living (ADL). We used multiple binary logistic regressions model to identify association between year and disability on ADL adjusted to age, sex, household situation, and number of chronic diseases and disability. We found that the trend of ADL disability has decreased between 1998 to 2013. Advancing age, female and number of chronic disease increased ADL disability. Urban area living was a protector factor. ADL disability among elderly has decreased over the last decade. Further study is required to identify possible causes behind the disability trends.

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 Presented in Session 6. Health & Mortality & Aging