2. Hypertension, a Major Risk Factor Doubles Arthritis Odds in Indonesian Elderly Population

Abstract

Background: Arthritis is a highly debilitating disease prevalent in the elderly population. Despite its comparable inflammatory pathophysiology, few studies especially in the Indonesian population have explored the links between arthritis and the ever-increasing metabolic syndrome. Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between four metabolic syndrome components (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus) and arthritis in the Indonesian elderly population. Methods: Data are gathered from the fifth wave of Indonesian Family Life Survey fielded in 2014–2015. After sampling weight adjustments, 3493 respondents aged 60+ years fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Independent variables of interest are analyzed using Pearson chi-square (CI = 95%, p < 0.05) and logistic regression (CI = 95%, p < 0.05). Result: The prevalence of arthritis in the sample population is 12.8%. The number of elderly with central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus is 44.1%, 28.4%, 8.2%, and 7.8% respectively. Multivariate analysis shows that baseline sample characteristics of female gender and low economic status, as well as three metabolic syndrome components obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia shows a significant association toward arthritis (p < 0.05). Hypertension poses the highest risk on arthritis out of all the variables analyzed in this study (OR 2.131; 95% CI 1.723 - 2.636). Conclusion: A significant association is found between 3 out of the 4 metabolic syndrome components, namely obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia on arthritis. Thus, early and comprehensive treatment of these modifiable metabolic risk factors, especially hypertension, may help to lower arthritis rates in the elderly population in Indonesia.