Obesity prevalence among oldest-old and its association with risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the obesity prevalence and its association with risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity in the oldest old (>80 years old) residing at the municipality of Veranópolis - RS, Brazil. METHODS: 196 elderly participated in the study (69 male and 127 female), 91% of the population aged >80 until June, 1996. For obesity evaluation and classification, we used the body mass index (BMI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) criteria. The cardiovascular risk factors investigated were sex, age, systemic hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes mellitus (DM) and smoking. For cardiovascular morbidities, we considered acute myocardial infarction, intermittent claudication and stroke. Waist-hip ratio (W/H), regular consumption of alcoholic beverages and physical activity were investigated too. RESULTS: The obesity prevalence was 23.3% according to WHO (without difference between sex, p=0.124) and 45.6% according to NHANES III criteria (significantly higher in female, p=0.05). Obesity associations with risk factors were sex-dependent (the obese females presented higher levels of systolic blood pressure and glucose, lower levels of HDL-c, and higher systemic hypertension and DM frequencies; while the obese males presented higher levels of diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-c and higher hypercholesterolemia frequency). W/H and triglycerides, as well as hypertriglyceridemia frequency, were higher in obese people. CONCLUSIONS: The obesity prevalence was high among the long-living elderly, and its association with cardiovascular risk factors was sex-dependent. As regards morbidities, we did not observe differences between obese and non-obese people.