Resumo

LIMA-COSTA, Maria Fernanda; FIRMO, Josélia O. A.  e  UCHOA, Elizabeth. The Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging: methodology and health profile of participants at baseline. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 2011, vol.27, suppl.3, pp. s327-s335. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2011001500002.

The cohort study was initiated in 1997 to investigate the incidence and predictors of health outcomes in an elderly population with low socio-economic level. The eligible population consisted of all 1,742 residents in Bambuí, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, aged 60 years and over (1,606 participated). During 10 years of follow-up, 641 participants died and 96 were lost, leading to 13,739 person-years of observation. The baseline health profile of participants revealed a double burden of diseases with high prevalence of chronic non-transmissible diseases and widespread Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The most common health condition was hypertension (61.5%), followed by chronic knee or hand symptoms (43.6%), common mental disorders (38.5%), T. cruzi infection (38.1%), and insomnia (36.7%). In general, the baseline prevalence of mental symptoms and cardiovascular diseases or risk factors was comparable to those found in populations in high income countries.

Palavras-chave : Aging; Health of the Elderly; Health Profile; Cohort Studies.