Cluster of factors related to metabolic changes in older individuals: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to multiple risk factors related to metabolic changes can negatively affect the health status of older individuals. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clustering of factors related to metabolic changes in older individuals. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a cross-sectional study involving 287 older individuals (≥ 60 years old) enrolled in the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Ibicuí, state of Bahia. METHODS: Factors associated with metabolic changes were abdominal obesity, self-reported diabe-tes, high blood pressure, sedentary behavior, and physical inactivity. Clustering was defined by an ob-served-to-expected prevalence (O/E) ratio greater than 1.20. The association between these factors was analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of seven clusters were identified with a predominance of diabetes, hypertension, sedentary behavior, and abdominal obesity (O/E = 2.28). Older adults were more likely to present with physical inactivity, diabetes, blood pressure, and sedentary behavior simultaneously (Odds Ratio [OR] = 7.78; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25–48.42). Negative health perception was associated with the combination of high blood pressure, sedentary behavior, and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.23; 95%CI = 0.25–0.92); female sex with the cluster of physical inactivity and abdominal obesity (OR = 0.12; 95%CI = 0.04–0.35); and the occurrence of physical inactivity without the presence of other factors (OR = 3.87; 95%CI = 1.66–8.99). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of risk factors related to metabolic changes represents a greater prob-ability of health problems than individual factors. Therefore, investigating the association between these factors will help in planning targeted interventions.