Racial inequalities in the health behaviors of elderly people in Brazil: data from the National Health Survey 2013 and 2019.

This article aims to analyze the prevalence of health behaviors and their association with race/ethnicity among elderly people in Brazil included in the National Health Survey 2013 and 2019. Cross-sectional study estimating the prevalence and adjusted prevalence ratios of health behaviors (current and past smoking; alcohol abuse; leisure-time physical activity; fruit and vegetable consumption) by white and black race/ethnicity. Over the period, all positive health behaviors increased significantly in both racial groups. Fruit and vegetable consumption were the most prevalent, while smoking cessation showed the highest increase. However, blacks had lower prevalence and odds of fruit and vegetable consumption and higher odds of current and past smoking. Current smoking was statistically higher in black men, and past smoking was higher in black women. The prevalence of positive health behaviors increased in white and black elderly people. However, racial disparities persist, with significant gaps between racial groups affecting the uniform achievement of positive health levels for all groups of elderly people in Brazil.