[Epidemiological profile of the elderly population in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil]

This is a descriptive study using the data side of the municipal secretariat for coordination of social policy in Belo Horizonte, whose purpose was to describe the epidemiological profile of elderly population of this city. The elderly in Belo Horizonte in 2000 represent 9.1% of total population residing therein. Population of elderly, 60.5% are women and 39.4% are men, 2.9% of the elderly had some type of physical disability, 16.4% have hearing loss, 23.5% find it hard to see, 24.1% have difficulty walking or climbing stairs, and that 3.8% had mental problems. It was concluded that the share of elderly people, weakened in Belo Horizonte was represented by less than one with good health. Aging is not synonymous with disability.