[Needs of chronic degenerative diseases among adults in a basic health unit in Sao Carlos--SP]

The purpose of this study was to find out the profile of the larger clientele more than 12 years old of a Basic Health Unit (BHU), according to socio-demographic variables such as sex,, age group, color, marital status, origin and to characterize the diseases profile according to the chapters of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD X-Revision) and group specific diagnoses standing out the group of the chronic-degenerative diseases, searching for its its characterization in the context of the demographic-epidemiology transition. The study was of the transversal type and the population was constituted by the clientele registered in the BHU until August 31, 1996. Individuals in situation of abandonment, the ones transferred to another units and those who died were excluded. The population studied was formed by 1013 individuals. Data were processed in the software FOXPRO vs 2.0 and the analysis developed in EPIINFO vs 6.04. Authors verified that the studied population was basically formed by women (87.1%). Regarding age, 69.6% were between 12 and 40 years old, 95.6% were of white color, 57.2% were married and 97% coming from the urban zone. The classification according to ICD chapters showed disturbances of the urinary tract and of the genital system (35.5%), breathing system (11.5%) and symptoms and signs (9.9%). The classification according to specific groups of causes showed similar proportions among the infect-parasitic diseases (24.8%) and the chronic-degenerative diseases (24.5%). In the group of chronic-degenerative diseases 50% of ICD chapters were formed by the groups: circulatory, endocrine causes and mental-behaviour. Authors observed that the profile of diseases at the BHU resembles the polarized model of transition where the chronic-degenerative diseases coexist with the infect-parasitic ones. The traditional model of care of the unit that focuses the maternal infant health seems not to adapt to the population progressive aging when prioritizing a clientele that although still young need collective actions for primary and secondary prevention of the chronic-degenerative diseases.