Prevalence of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in an indigenous community in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala/Prevalencia de los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades no transmisibles en una comunidad indigena de Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública 2017-04, Vol.41 (1)
• Main Authors: Chen, David, Rivera-Andrade, Alvaro, Gonzalez, Jessica, Burt, David, Mendoza-Montano, Carlos, Patrie, James, Luna, Max
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1020-4989

Objective. To describe the prevalence of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors and assess knowledge of those risk factors in the indigenous community of Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala, a lower-middle income country. Methods. A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted using a modified version of the World Health Organization's STEPS protocol. Adults aged 20-65 years were surveyed regarding demographics and NCD risk factors, and the survey was followed by anthropometric and biochemical measurements. Results. Out of 501 screened individuals, 350 respondents were enrolled. The mean age was 36.7 years, and 72.3% were women. Over 90% reported earning less than US$ 65 per month. Almost 80% were stunted. Among women, 37.3% were obese and over three-quarters had central obesity. Over three-quarters of the entire group had dyslipidemia and 18.3% had hypertension, but only 3.0% had diabetes. Overall, 36.0% of participants met criteria for metabolic syndrome. There was no significant association between participants' education and NCD risk factors except for an inverse association with obesity by percent body fat. Conclusions. Santiago Atitlan is a rural, indigenous Guatemalan community with high rates of poverty and stunting coexisting alongside high rates of obesity, particularly among women. Additionally, high rates of hypertension and dyslipidemia were found, but a low rate of diabetes mellitus. Knowledge of NCDs and their risk factors was low, suggesting that educational interventions may be a high-yield, low-cost approach to combating NCDs in this community. Keywords Cardiovascular diseases; metabolic diseases; risk factors; obesity; indigenous population; Guatemala. Objetivo. Describir la prevalencia de los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT) y evaluar el conocimiento de esos factores de riesgo en la comunidad indigena de Santiago Atitlan en Guatemala, un pais de ingresos medianos bajos. Metodos. Se realizo un estudio transversal basado en la poblacion usando una version as de la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud. Se realizo una encuesta a adultos de 20 a 65 anos de edad con respecto a algunas caracteristicas demograficas y los factores de riesgo de las ENT; la encuesta fue seguida de mediciones antropometricas y bioquimicas. Resultados. De las 501 personas encuestadas, se registraron 350 para el sondeo. La media de edad fue 36,7 anos, y 72,3% eran mujeres. Mas de 90% informo tener un ingreso inferior a los US$ 65 mensu