Prevalence of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases according to Color/Race in Brazil

An Analysis of the 2019 National Health Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID8135603
AuthorsTalita Araujo De Souza (0000-0002-3138-6626, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, corresponding author), Kezauyn Miranda Aiquoc (0000-0003-3709-615X, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte), Brunno Alves de Lucena (Centro Universitário de Patos de Minas), Arthur De Almeida Medeiros (0000-0002-2192-8823, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul), Isabelle Ribeiro Barbosa (0000-0002-1385-2849, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte), Gilson De Vasconcelos Torres (0000-0003-2265-5078, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte)
Year2026
Publication date2026-03-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2196-8837 • E-ISSN: 2197-3792
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s40615-026-02884-5
PMID41806070
OpenAlexW7134917583
LanguageEN
References cited28

This study examines racial disparities in the prevalence of noncommunicable chronic diseases (CNCDs) in Brazil. It also assesses whether these disparities persist after adjusting for sociodemographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2019 National Health Survey. The sample included 94,114 individuals aged 15 years or older. Fifteen self-reported CNCD outcomes were analyzed. Color or race was the main independent variable. Age and sex were treated as confounders, while education and income were conceptualized as socioeconomic mediators. Additionally, behavioral risk factors, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity, were incorporated into the adjusted models. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), incorporating sample weights. In the Brazilian population, the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) was 24.76% (95% CI: 24.26%–25.27%) and multimorbidity was 28.58% (95% CI: 28.02%–29.15%). Black color/race was associated with AH (PR: 1.01; 95% CI: 1.03–1.10), diabetes (PR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.00–1.15), and stroke (PR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.04–1.38). In adjusted analysis, Black color/race remained associated with AH (PR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.15–1.22), diabetes (PR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.25), and stroke (PR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.08–1.43). Mixed/Brown color/race was associated with AH (PR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03–1.07) and diabetes (PR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.00–1.10). This study reveals a higher prevalence of CNCDs among Black and Mixed-race populations in Brazil, even after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. The persistence of racial health disparities and underscore the urgent need for public policies that promote racial equity, improve health system responsiveness, and confront structural racism as a critical determinant of health

Confidence interval · Diabetes mellitus · Health equity · National Health Interview Survey · Poisson regression · Public health · Socioeconomic status · Stroke (engine · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins · Epidemiology · Global Public Health Policies and Epidemiology

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