The aim of this study was to verify whether health inequalities among Brazilian adults (20-64 years) and old-aged (> 65 years) have changed from 1998 to 2003. The study was conducted in samples of 203.455 and 239.700 participants of the National Household Sample Survey in 1998 and 2003 respectively. The health characteristics of those in the lower quintile of the per capita family income were compared to those with higher income by means of multivariate analysis methods. The characteristics considered in this study were health conditions and physical functioning, use of medical and dental services and health plan affiliation. The results from both years showed poorer health conditions, poorer physical functioning and less use of medical and dental services among those with lower per capita family income in both age groups, 20-64 and > 65 years. The associations between per capita family income, health status and use of health services were similar in 1998 and 2003, indicating that health inequalities have not changed in the period under study. The persistence of these inequalities shows the inefficiency of public policies in the last five years to reduce such inequalities.
Heath inequalities; Health of the old-aged; Health of adults; PNAD
