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. 2016 Dec 1;50(Suppl 2):10s. doi: 10.1590/S1518-8787.2016050006150

Table 4. Crude and adjusteda,b prevalence ratios of low adherence to treatment for chronic diseases by adults aged 20 or over in Brazil, by analyzed variables. PNAUM, Brazil, 2014. (N = 11,842).

Variablec Crude analysis Adjusted analysis


PR 95%IC pd PR 95% IC Pd
Level 1
Demographic characteristics
Gender     0.017      
Male Ref          
Female 1.13 1.02–1.25        
Age (years)     < 0.001     < 0.001
20-39 1.34 1.16–1.56   1.64 1.39-1.93  
40-59 1.05 0.95–1.16   1.16 1.04-1.29  
≥ 60 Ref          
Skin color     0.383      
White Ref          
Non-white 1.04 0.94–1.16        
Marital status     0.409      
With partner Ref          
Without partner 1.03 0.95–1.12        
Socioeconomic characteristics
Level of education (years of study)     0.003      
No education 1.11 0.97–1.27        
1 to 8 years 0.89 0.81–0.99        
≥ 8 years Ref          
Economic status ABEPd     0.372      
A/B Ref          
C 0.98 0.86–1.12        
D/E 1.06 0.90–1.25        
Brazilian region     < 0.001     < 0.001
North Ref          
Northeast 1.68 1.37–2.05   1.33 1.10-1.61  
Southeast 1.28 1.03–1.61   1.11 0.90-1.38  
South 1.18 0.96–1.44   0.98 0.81-1.18  
Midwest 1.56 1.26–1.94   1.21 1.00-1.47  
Health plan     0.102     0.031
Yes 0.91 0.82–1.01   0.89 0.81-0.99  
No Ref          

Level 2

Health system characteristics
Visits doctor to treat chronic diseases 0,668      
Yes Ref          
No 0.96 0.82–1.12        
Number of doctors visited to treat chronic diseases < 0.001     < 0.001
One Ref          
More than one 1.47 1.34–1.61   1.16 1.06-1.26  
Free access to drug therapy for chronic diseases < 0.001     < 0.001
All free Ref          
Any free 1.83 1.64–2.04   1.32 1.18-1.49  
None free 1.14 1.01–1.28   1.14 1.02-1.29  
Number of hospitalizations in the previous 12 months < 0.001      
None Ref          
1 1.15 0.99–1.34        
2 or more 1.73 1.44–2.08        
Number of emergency visits in the previous 12 months < 0.001     < 0.001
None Ref          
1 1.47 1.32–1.63   1.14 1.03-1.27  
2 or more 1.84 1.63–2.09   1.32 1.18-1.48  
Self-perceived health and morbidities
Self-perceived health     < 0.001      
Very good Ref          
Good 1.45 0.99–2.12        
Average 2.08 1.40–3.08        
Poor 2.69 1.78–4.07        
Very poor 2.88 1.91–4.32        
Number of chronic diseases (comorbidities) < 0.001     < 0.001
1 Ref          
2 1.59 1.41–1.79   1.28 1.10-1.48  
3 or more 2.11 1.88–2.31   1.39 1.16-1.66  
Limitations due to chronic disease   < 0.001     < 0.001
No limitations Ref          
Limitations 1.80 1.64–1.97   1.34 1.21-1.49  

Level 3

Use of drugs
Number of drugs used to treat chronic diseases < 0,001     < 0,001
1 Ref          
2 1,28 1,12–1,46   1,08 0,93–1,26  
3 to 4 1,89 1,67–2,12   1,43 1,21–1,69  
5 or more 2,43 2,14–2,76   1,61 1,34–1,94  

a Non-adherence = low adherence according to BMQ (2 or more positive answers).

b According to the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ).

c Variables grouped by entry in the adjusted analysis model.

d Wald test.

e According to Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil 2013 – ABEP. Available from: http//www.abep.org.