Tendências temporais das desigualdades no acúmulo de fatores de risco comportamentais para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis nas capitais brasileiras de 2006 a 2018

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess trends in inequalities regarding sex and educational levels in accumulated behavioral risk factors in all Brazilian state capitals. Repeated surveys from a surveillance initiative (Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico – VIGITEL) carried out from 2006 to 2018 including adults (≥ 18 years) living in the 26 Brazilian capital cities and in the Federal District were analyzed (n=677,866). Accumulation of at least two risk factors included the assessmentof physical inactivity, inadequate diet, tobacco use and abusive alcohol consumption. Simple and compl ex measures of inequality were calculated according to sex and educational level, in addition to assessing intersectionality between age groups and regions of the country. Accumulated risk factors prevalence between 2006 and 2018 decreased from 52.7% to 41.2% among males and from 44.9% to 30.8% among females. Despite the observed decreasing trends in the prevalence of accumulated risk factors over time, inequalities of sex and educational levels remained. Men and people with lower levels of education persistently presented higher prevalence of accumulated risk factors, highlighting not only the need for monitoring strategies of such inequalities but also for actions aiming at reducing these factors.