Introduction:

Older adults have their own health problems and socio-economic conditions that affect them directly. The identification of these determinants allows for appropriate interventions.

Objective:

To estimate socioeconomic inequalities and the health of older adults in Peru.

Methods:

An observational study was conducted, using the 2014 and 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey as a secondary source.

Results:

The sample of older adults during the years 2014 and 2019 was 4703 and 6112, respectively. The majority were between 60 and 70 years of age (representing 57% in 2014 and 57.2% in 2019), had primary education (45.9% and 40.4%), no education (18.1% and 13.8%), married as marital status (52.4% and 45.2%), urban area of residence (71.3% and 77.5%), belonged to the extremely poor and poor quintile (38.8% and 38.1%) and had some health insurance (75% and 83.1%). For the years 2014 and 2019, the proportion of older adults with hypertension was 39.1% and 37.7%, with diabetes mellitus 8.2% and 11.3% and with obesity (Body Mass Index- BMI >=30) 13.2% and 15%, respectively. Among the older adults surveyed with diabetes mellitus, there was an increase in the urban population in 2019 with a significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to 2014.

Conclusions:

Equity and inequalities are determinants for the existence of populations that are more vulnerable than others at the social, economic and health levels, especially in older adults.