Prevalence of multimorbidity in older adults in São Paulo, Brazil: a study with ISA-Capital

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity in older adults in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on the 2015 ISA-Capital population-based survey, with a subsample of 1,019 older adults aged ≥ 60 years old. Multimorbidity was categorized considering two or more chronic diseases, based on a previously defined list. The data were analyzed in univariate and multiple models with Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of multimorbidity was 40% (95%CI: 36.6–43.8), being higher in women (PR (a) = 1.95 [compared to men]; 95%CI: 1.58–2.40), in individuals aged ≥ 75 years old (PR (a) = 1.25 [compared to individuals aged ≥ 60 to 64 years old]; 95%CI: 1.01–1.60), in Black people (PR (a) = 1.28 [compared to White people]; 95%CI: 1.04–1.59), in high-income people (PR (a) = 1.27 [compared to low income]; 95%CI: 1.09–1.50) and in former smokers (PR (a) = 1.30 [compared to those who never smoked]; 95%CI: 1.05–1.60), and lower in smokers (PR (a) = 0.72 [compared to those who never smoked]; 95%CI: 1.09–1.50). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of multimorbidity was lower than that reported in most of the reviewed studies, but consistently associated with gender, age, race/skin color, smoking habit and socioeconomic status. The standardization of conceptual and methodological criteria for estimation is a challenge to relieve problems in the planning and management of health care systems for older populations.