Clustering of behavioral risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases in climacteric women

ABSTRACT

Objective  To estimate the prevalence of clustering of behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, as well as the associated factors in climacteric women.

Methods  This is a cross-sectional, analytical study, with random selection of climacteric women, aged between 40 and 65 years, and registered in Family Health Strategy units. The dependent variable was clustering of three or more behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. The definition of associated variables was made after Poisson multiple regression analysis with robust variance.

Results  We evaluated 810 women, and 259 (32.0%) had a clustering of risk factors. The main risk behaviors were physical inactivity and low fruit consumption. The variables associated with clustering of behavioral factors were age group 52-65-years, marital status without a partner, overweight/obesity, moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms.

Conclusion  There was a considerable prevalence of women with three or more behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases. Demographic variables and those related to health conditions were shown to be associated. Considering the results recorded, health services must provide differentiated care policies to climacteric women, seeking to alleviate high morbidity and mortality of chronic non-communicable diseases.

Risk factors; Noncommunicable diseases; Climacteric; Women; Women’s health; Health behavior; Disease prevention; Obesity