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

Exposure to multiple risk factors related to metabolic changes can negatively affect the health status of older individuals.

To investigate the clustering of factors related to metabolic changes in older individuals.

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.

Factors associated with metabolic changes were abdominal obesity, self-reported diabetes, high blood pressure, sedentary behavior, and physical inactivity. Clustering was defined by an observed-to-expected prevalence (O/E) ratio greater than 1.20. The association between these factors was analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

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).

The combination of risk factors related to metabolic changes represents a greater probability of health problems than individual factors. Therefore, investigating the association between these factors will help in planning targeted interventions.