Depression more common in Brazilians than diabetes, report says

This depression It is becoming increasingly common in Brazil, as the results of the Vigitel 2021 Study conducted by the Ministry of Health show. The number of people suffering from the disease is much higher than the World Health Organization estimate (5.3% of the Brazilian population). According to the survey, the affected population averages 11.3% – this is higher than the number of patients. diabeteswhich goes up to 9.1%.

27,093 people aged 18 years and older residing in all states and the Federal Territory responded to the telephone survey, raising questions about diet, physical activity, smoking and the occurrence of chronic noncommunicable diseases.

This was the first time depression was included in the Vigitel survey, but the 2019 National Health Survey (PNS) had already recorded that 10% of the Brazilian population had a medical diagnosis of depression. In 2013, it was 7.6%.

The figure is alarming because while diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by malabsorption of insulin, a hormone that helps convert glucose into energy, depression is a mood disorder and accompanies sadness even though it has no single cause. It can lead to pessimism, low self-esteem, and, if left untreated, as serious as suicide.

depression in Brazil

The city with the highest proportion of adults with depression was Porto Alegre in Rio Grande do Sul, at 17.5%. The lowest rate was in Belém (Pará) with 7.2%.

According to research, depression affects more women than men in the country. The worst outcome for women was in Belo Horizonte, and 23% of the women interviewed were diagnosed with depression. Among men, the highest proportion was in Porto Alegre: 16%.

You can find the entire survey here.