Objective: To compare the estimates obtained by different methods of population-based surveys for self-reported chronic conditions among adults living in Campinas in the year 2008.
Methods: Data from ISACamp Survey, conducted by the Faculty of Medical Sciences from Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) with support from the County Health Department and VIGITEL (Campinas), a telephone survey conducted by the Brazilian Ministry of Health toward Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic non-communicable Diseases in the adult population (18 years and over) were analyzed. Estimates of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and asthma/bronchitis/emphysema were evaluated and compared by the independent (two-sample) Student's t-test.
Results: For global estimates, a higher prevalence of hypertension and osteoporosis was ascertained by the telephone survey. Diabetes and asthma/bronchitis/emphysema results showed no statistically significant differences. According to sociodemographic variables, a higher prevalence of hypertension was obtained by VIGITEL for men, among people aged 18 to 59 years, and those who reported nine or more years of schooling. A higher prevalence of osteoporosis among adults (18 to 59 years) was verified by VIGITEL. Concerning asthma/bronchitis/emphysema in the elderly, ISACamp survey showed a higher prevalence.
Conclusion: Except for the hypertension prevalence, the telephone survey has proven to be a rapid alternative to provide global prevalence estimates of health conditions in the adult population of Campinas.