Metabolic syndrome among elderly care-home residents in southern India: a cross-sectional study.
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Date
2016-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia
Abstract
Background: The health of the elderly population and the emergence of
noncommunicable diseases have become major public health issues in recent years.
Metabolic syndrome is thought to be the main driving force for the global epidemic of
cardiovascular diseases, as well as for type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study
aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlates among
the residents of care homes for the elderly in Hyderabad city, India.
Methods: A total 114 elderly persons (aged ≥60 years) were evaluated in a
cross-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the 2005 criteria
of the International Diabetes Federation. Data were collected on selected
sociodemographic, behavioural and nutritional variables and cardiometabolic risk
factors. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also recorded.
Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose and
serum lipid levels. Univariable logistic regression was applied to investigate the
associations between metabolic syndrome and known risk factors; adjusted
analysis was then done by multivariable logistic regression for significant variables.
Results: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 42.1% (48/114)
among the study population. A higher prevalence (50.9%; 27/53) was found among
women. High blood pressure or taking antihypertensive medication was found
to be the most common (95.8%; 46/48) cardiometabolic component. The risk of
metabolic syndrome did not differ significantly by age group, sex, caste, religion,
type of diet (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), educational status, behavioural factors
such as tobacco use and alcohol intake, physical activity (assessed by modified
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] scale), or physical exercise.
However, a body mass index ≥23 kg/m2 was associated with metabolic syndrome
(unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 8.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.78–21.28);
adjusted OR: 9.31; 95% CI: 4.12–22.14)
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this study population
of elderly care-home residents in India was more than 40%. Further research on
the burden of metabolic syndrome in the elderly population is warranted.
Description
Keywords
cardiometabolic risk factors, care home, elderly, metabolic syndrome, noncommunicable disease
Citation
WHO South-East Asia Journal of Public Health 2016;5(1): 62-69.