Perfiles de salud-alimentación predominantes entre personas adultas mayores de la ciudad de Córdoba en tiempos de pandemia

Abstract

Current data indicate that Argentina is undergoing an advanced demographic transition with 15.5% of the elderly population and 16.6% in the province of Córdoba. These data become more relevant after the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 80% of deaths occurring among the population older than 60 years, mainly in older adults with comorbidities. This new scenario -from the syndemic concept that brings together the social, biological and environmental aspects- challenges the health systems and their application context, which intervene in determining health and nutrition, becoming the topic of interest today. This work aims to analyze the sociodemographic and environmental conditions that intervene in the process of developing health and nutrition profiles of older adults (OA), Córdoba 2020-2021.

A population-based, cross-sectional and correlational epidemiological study was conducted, using a multistage random sampling of OA, n=221. Sociodemographic conditions (socioeconomic level and education), environmental conditions (presence of landfills or pollution sources), health profiles (presence of chronic diseases) and diet (g/day ingested food) were inquired about through structured interviews. Descriptive and confirmatory analyses were performed using the Chi2 test, a multiple correspondence factor analysis to generate health-diet profiles, and a multiple logistic regression.

85% of the OA included in the study -whose average age was 68±6 years, 41% completed the secondary education level- recognized neighborhood contamination, with 38% being garbage dumps near the home. 89% had at least 1 noncommunicable disease (NCD) or associated risk factor, and 66% were overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2). The presence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) was associated with the development of NCDs (OR=2.05; CI:1.007-3.922). Only 4% of the population met the recommendation for daily consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The different dimensions of health profiles recognize that the characteristics of life and contextual conditions can contribute to the development of NCDs, raising the need to delve into the socio-environmental determinants that condition the aging process.