Association between obesity and mortality in the Costa Rican elderly: a cohort study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Latin American populations, including Costa Rica, face demographic shifts towards aging.
• Increased prevalence of chronic conditions, particularly obesity, is a growing concern.
• Shifting disease patterns from communicable to non-communicable diseases impact morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between obesity and mortality in the elderly population of Costa Rica.
• To assess the relationship between obesity and both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
• To provide evidence for public health interventions targeting obesity in aging populations.

Main Methods:

• Secondary data analysis of the Costa Rican Longevity and Healthy Aging Study (CRELES).
• Utilized a longitudinal, nationally representative cohort of elderly individuals (n=2827).
• Employed survival models (Cox and Gompertz distributions) with Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) as predictors.

Main Results:

• A one-unit increase in BMI was significantly associated with a 3.1% increase in general mortality (p<0.001) and a 2.6% increase in cardiovascular mortality (p=0.021).
• A one-unit increase in Waist Circumference (WC) was significantly associated with a 0.8% increase in general mortality (p=0.006).
• WC was not significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusions:

• Obesity is significantly associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in Costa Rican elders.
• Both general obesity (BMI) and central obesity (WC) contribute to higher mortality risks.
• Public health policies focusing on obesity prevention are crucial for improving survival rates in this demographic.