Co-occurrence of behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in adolescents: Prevalence and associated factors

Alessandra Silva Dias De Oliveira,Rosangela Alves Pereira,Glória Valeria De Veiga,Anelise Bezerra De Vasconcelos De Moraes,Naiara Ferraz Moreira

doi:10.1590/1678-98652017000600007

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To examine the prevalence of the behavioral risk factors – both isolated and clustered – for chronic diseases, among adolescents. Additionally, its association with various social and demographic variables was estimated. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 1,039 high school students, from public and private schools, elected for convenience, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, as well as crude and adjusted ordinal logistic regression were used to assess the association between the variables. Results The most frequently observed risk factors were sedentary behavior (68.8%), alcohol consumption (36.8%), and overweight (26.8%). The clustering of risk factors was observed in 67.5% of the students. Being a girl (OR=1.28; 95%CI=1.01–1.63), Caucasian (OR=1.35; 95%CI=1.06–1.72) or private school student (OR=1.46; 95%CI=1.12–1.88) increased the chance of the clustering of risk factors. The co-occurrence of risk factors was predominantly observed in the case of smoking (OR=4.94; 95%CI=1.46–16.75), alcohol consumption (OR=1.43; 95%CI=1.09–1.88), high consumption of ultra-processed foods (OR=1.57; 95%CI=1.19–2.07), and sedentary behavior (OR=1.40; 95%CI=1.07–1.82). Conclusion The co-occurrence of behavioral risk factors was observed to be higher among girls, Caucasian adolescents, and private school students, as well as, among smokers, alcohol users and adolescents with sedentary habits and a high consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Highlights

Major Non-Transmissible Chronic Diseases (NTCDs) are usually associated with modifiable risk factors
The co-occurrence of risk factors was predominantly observed in the case of smoking (OR=4.94; 95%CI=1.46–16.75), alcohol consumption (OR=1.43; 95%CI=1.09–1.88), high consumption of ultra-processed foods (OR=1.57; 95%CI=1.19–2.07), and sedentary behavior (OR=1.40; 95%CI=1.07–1.82)
The co-occurrence of behavioral risk factors was observed to be higher among girls, Caucasian adolescents, and private school students, as well as, among smokers, alcohol users and adolescents with sedentary habits and a high consumption of ultra-processed foods

Summary

Introduction

Major Non-Transmissible Chronic Diseases (NTCDs) are usually associated with modifiable risk factors. Up to 80% of cases of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancers can be prevented by the elimination of factors such as tobacco use, inadequate diet, physical inactivity and excessive consumption of alcohol [1]. Overweight is an important risk factor for NTCDs [2]. Worldwide, have reported the co-occurrence of the risk factors for NTCDs, in adolescents [4,5,6]. Nunes et al [8], RISK FACTORS IN ADOLESCENTS 749 studied five factors, but did not take into account overweight to compose the variable co-occurrence. Other authors studied four factors, without evaluating the consumption of alcohol [9] or overweight [10,11,12,13], or three factors, without evaluating tobacco consumption or excess weight [14]

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Discussion

Conclusion