The association between skin color/race and health indicators in elderly Brazilians: a study based on the Brazilian National Household Sample Survey (2008)

Abstract

This study analyzed racial inequalities in health in 18,684 elderly Brazilians 65 years or older, interviewed in the National Household Sample Survey in 2008 (PNAD 2008), and who reported their color/race as white, brown, or black. Associations were estimated between self-rated health status, functional incapacity, and number of chronic conditions according to crude and adjusted regression analyses (α = 0.01). The majority of the elderly were white (56.2%). In the adjusted analysis, brown color/races was associated with worse self-rated health status (OR = 1.11; 95%CI: 1.03-1.18) and black color/race was associated with more chronic diseases (PR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.02-1.13). Brown color/race appeared as a protective factor against functional incapacity. When brown and black elderly were combined in one category (“black”), “black” elderly continued to show worse self-rated health status (OR = 1.09; 95%CI: 1.02-1.16) and lower odds of functional incapacity (OR = 0.83; 95%CI: 0.76-0.92). “Black” color/race lost the association with number of chronic diseases. Color/race explained part of the health inequalities in elderly Brazilians, but other socioeconomic variables had a more striking effect.

Associação entre cor/raça, obesidade e diabetes em idosos da comunidade: dados do Estudo FIBRA

“…Racial differences associated with higher morbity 19,46,47 , obesity 9,15,22,29 and disability 16,28 are largely explained by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, with lead to an accumulation of unhealthy behaviors and lifestyle, due to lower access to information, quality education and health services. According to Chor 20 , race, socioeconomic status and gender are crucial variables Table 4 Effect of race on body fat among diabetic elderly individuals according to gender, adjusted by schooling and family income.…”

“…Race and ethnicity, demographic characteristics which are also widely correlated with socioeconomic status 17,18,19,20 , are associated with obesity, evaluated by anthropometric indicators of general (BMI) 7,9,21,22,23 and central fat (waist circumference -WC and waist-hip ratio -WHR) 9,24,25 .…”

Fatores relacionados à autopercepção do estado de saúde em idosos residentes no meio rural do Brasil

“…A cor parda esteve associada ao pior estado de saúde autorreferido e a preta à maior comorbidade [24]. Assim como no presente estudo, o autor conclui que idosos pardos e pretos apresentam pior estado de saúde.…”

“…Estudos realizados na Inglaterra e nos Estados Unidos também indicam associação da cor/raça com APES dos idosos, ressaltando que as desigualdades raciais refletem a situação de saúde das populações durante os ciclos da vida [25]. Oliveira et al [24] ressaltam que desigualdades socioeconômicas relacionadas a escolaridade, atividade econômica e renda causam importante efeito nas condições gerais de vida dos idosos. Esses fatores estão associados à baixa chance de apresentar APES boa ou muito boa.…”

“…Esses fatores estão associados à baixa chance de apresentar APES boa ou muito boa. Entre os idosos que relatam APES boa ou muito boa, destacam-se fatores como maior escolaridade, renda e comportamentos relativos à saúde, como consumo frequente de frutas e verduras e uso moderado de álcool [6,24]. Entretanto, no presente estudo a análise ajustada nos permite concluir que a relação entre raça e APES em idosos é independente dos níveis de escolaridade e socioeconômicos.…”