Surveillance and monitoring of major chronic diseases in Brazil - National Health Survey, 2013.

OBJECTIVE To describe the major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Brazil, according to the information collected from individuals aged 18 years or older. METHODS Data from the National Health Survey (PNS), 2013, a transversal population-based study, were used. The proportions of each NCD were calculated and presented according to sex, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI), with the absolute values. RESULTS Of the total respondents, 45.1% reported presenting at least one NCD. The region with the highest prevalence of NCDs was the South (52.1%). Hypertension showed the highest prevalence among NCDs, with 21.4%, followed by chronic back problem (18.5%), depression (7.6%), arthritis (6.4%), and diabetes (6.2%). The intense/very intense degree of limitation showed a higher prevalence of other mental illnesses (37.6%) and cerebrovascular accident (25.5%). CONCLUSION The improvement of health services is essential for an effective response to the double burden of illness in the middle- and low-income countries.