International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 22/jul/2024;37:e20240019.

Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, and Insufficient Physical Activity Associated with Diabesity in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Gabriel Alves Godinho , Paulo da Fonseca Valença Neto , Claudio Bispo de Almeida , Saulo Sacramento Meira , Beatriz Cardoso Roriz , Raquel dos Santos Barbosa , Cezar Augusto Casotti , Lucas dos Santos

DOI: 10.36660/ijcs.20240019

Abstract

Background

During aging, physiological and behavioral changes occur that lead to the development of diabesity (diabetes + obesity). Hence, the hypothesis that behavioral and health aspects can increase the probability of this outcome is plausible. In this framework, it is essential to carry out health surveys to investigate the factors that increase the probability of diabesity, as this information could be used to help monitor this outcome in the older population more accurately.

Objective

To verify the factors associated with diabesity in older adults.

Methods

This is an epidemiological survey, with a cross-sectional design, conducted with 211 older adults (58.80% women) from Aiquara, Bahia, Brazil. To assess the outcome, body mass index (BMI > 27 kg/m²) and the concomitant presence of diabetes mellitus were used. In the inferential analyses, crude models and, subsequently, a multiple hierarchical explanatory model were constructed (level 1: socioeconomic variables; level 2: behavioral aspects; level 3: health conditions). This was performed using Poisson regression, with a robust estimator, calculations of prevalence ratios (PR) and their relevant 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

The prevalence of diabesity observed was around 9.50%. Furthermore, older adults who were insufficiently active (RP: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.20 to 6.36), those with arterial hypertension (PR: 5.32; 95% CI: 1.10 to 25.73), and those with hypercholesterolemia (PR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.08 to 7.23) were more likely to have this outcome.

Conclusion

In the older population of Aiquara, Bahia, Brazil, the factors associated with diabesity were insufficient level of physical activity (PA), arterial hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.