Cardiometabolic multimorbidity and care experiences in primary healthcare among Brazilian adults aged 50 and over (ELSI-Brazil)

The study examined primary healthcare experiences among Brazilian adults aged 50 and over with cardiometabolic multimorbidity (coexistence of two or more conditions: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, myocardial infarction, or stroke). The research included 9,949 participants from the second wave of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging conducted in 2019-2021. The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity was 25.5%, with progressive increase by age and inverse gradient by education. Individuals with cardiometabolic multimorbidity reported significantly more positive experiences in longitudinality and to a lesser extent in communication. No statistically significant differences were found in first-contact access or care coordination. The study highlights structural gaps in primary care responsiveness to the needs of individuals with greater clinical complexity.