Absence of routine medical consultation among hypertensive and/or diabetic elders: an epidemiological study based on the Brazilian National Household Survey 2008.

Objective: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the predisposing, enabling and health need characteristics associated with lack of medical visits in the last 12 months, among 23,620 elderly hypertensive and/or diabetic individuals.

Methods: In this research, we used the theoretical behavioral model of Andersen and Newman for use of health services. The data analyzed were produced by the health supplement of the Brazilian National Household Survey (PNAD) 2008, nationwide.