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.