NCD behavioral risk factors and mortality among older adults in Brazil

Literature shows that the most studied concurrent risk factors for mortality in elderly individuals are smoking, inadequate diet, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. The combination of such habits can increase from 3 to 11 times the chance of death. To measure the association between concurrence of behavioral risk factors (BRF) for non-communicable diseases (NCD's) and mortality up to three years among the elderly.

Cohort study started in 2014 named "COMO VAI?" with community-dwelling aged ≥60 years in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We investigated the deaths from all causes occurred until April 2017. The exposure was defined by the presence of physical inactivity, low-quality diet, alcohol consumption and smoking that composed a score ranging from 0 (none) to 4 (all). Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to evaluate the association between BRF concurrence and mortality.

In 2014, 1451 elderly people were interviewed, 145 deaths were identified (10%) by April 2017. Higher risk of death was observed for the combinations of physical inactivity + smoking and low-quality diet + physical inactivity. The simultaneous presence of three or more BRF was associated with a nearly six-fold higher risk of death.

Higher mortality during a 3-year period was observed among those with at least three BRF for NCD's.