Traces of population aging in SouthernBrazil: Demographic and epidemiological dynamics of the New Millennium

• Roberth Steven Gutiérrez-Murillo ^[1] ; Wendy Ledix ^[2] ; James BersonLalane ^[2] ; Larissa Djanilda Parrada Luz ^[3] ; Daiane Regina Pinto ^[4] ; Teresa ChangChien ^[4] ; José Alexsandro de AraújoNascimento ^[5]
  1. [1] European University of the Atlantic/UNEATLANTICO, Santander, Spain
  2. [2] University of São Paulo/USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
  3. [3] Sergio AroucaNational School of Public Health /FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazi
  4. [4] Federal University for Latin American Integration/UNILA, Paraná, Brazil.
  5. [5] International Iberoamerican University/UNINI, Campeche, Mexico.

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• Localización: Atena Journal of Public Health, ISSN-e 2695-5911, Volumen 4, 2022, 45 págs.
• Idioma: español
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  • Objective: To explorethe demographic and epidemiological implications of population aging in Southern Brazil from 2000 to 2019. Methods: Anecological series study of retrospective temporality, with a quantitative and descriptive approach. We took as units of analysis the three states that make up the Southern Brazilian region, namely: Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Paraná (PR),and Santa Catarina (SC), as well as their corresponding capitals (Porto Alegre, Curitiba,and Florianópolis, respectively).Sociodemographic and territoria l data were extracted from official institutes (at the state level) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (at the national level). Data was retrieved from the System of Health Indicators and Monitoring of Public Policies for the Elderly, in order to trace the epidemiological profile. We then clustered the data according to state of origin and performed simple descriptive statistical analyses, using measures of dispersion and percentage differentiation. Findings: The majority of elderly in Southern Brazil are women, self-declared white,and with low levels of schooling.The region went from an aging rate of 32.13%in 2000to 52.82% in 2010, with Paraná being the most populous state. Positive values were observed in the socioeconomic and social fragility dimensions, as well as in the contextual and environmental aspects. Despite the decrease in cognitive impairments and difficulties in activities of daily living, visual, hearing,and physical impairments areincreasing in worrying proportions. In bothgeriatric morbidity and mortality, the highest values were concentrated in diseases of the circulatory and respiratory systems and neoplasms. Thus, the region follows the national and international patterns of morbimortality in the elderly. Conclusions: It is believed that structural and organizational improvements in local public health systems and programs have had a positive effect on the survival of the elderly in Southern Brazil. Coupled with this, the constant improvement and qualification of healthprofessionals reinforce the practices and health care for the aging population, reflecting onthe better health rates seen in this population segment.