Multimorbidity and health care of community health workers in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2019: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate health conditions, health care and life habits of community health workers (CHW) in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study of baseline data from an intervention study. Biochemical, anthropometric, hemodynamic examinations were carried out and an interview was conducted between October/2018 and March/2019 in Vitória. Appropriate statistical tests, according to the sample design, were performed using SPSS software version 21.0, adopting p<0.05. Results: Evaluated 262 CHW with a mean age of 46.1±9.3 years. High prevalence of pre-diabetes(22.9%), diabetes mellitus (17.2%), hypertension (37,0%), obesity (39.8%), hypercholesterolemia (57.3%), hypertriglyceridemia (27.1%), multimorbidity (40.8%), physical inactivity (60.9%) and use of anxiolytics/ antidepressants (22.5%). About 40% of CHW had three or more morbidities. Conclusion: High percentages of chronic diseases, multimorbidity, sedentary lifestyle and use of anxiolytics/antidepressants were observed in CHW in Vitória.