Sociodemographic profile and lifestyle of the elderly population in a city in northern Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic profile of elderly in a city in northern Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. METHODOLOGY: Quantitative, descriptive and transversal research analyzing sociodemographic (age, sex, marital status, educational background and income) and lifestyle (alcoholism, smoking and physical exercise) variables. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty-four elderly people participated in the study, being 68.4% women aged 60-69 years old. There were more individuals aged 80 than 75-80 years (14.6%); predomination of marital status "married" (53.8%); most had studied for less than five years (60.1%), had family income between one and two minimum wages, and with two dependent people. The main expenses were related to feeding, health/drugs, and 75.7% of them made use of daily drugs, while 71.3% took from one to three drugs daily. Most of them did not consume alcoholic (85.6%), nor smoked (85.6%), and 48.3% of the elderly did not practice regular physical exercises. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the prevailing sociodemographic profile in the elderly is low income and poorer education; concerning lifestyle, most did not drink alcoholic beverages, smoke, or practice physical activity, and their main expenditure was feeding and health/drugs. In this context, it is understood that public health management has great challenges with ageing, such as enabling technicians and professionals develop inclusive policies that value more the elderly, as well as their caregivers and relatives, by offering adequate support.