International Journal of Nursing

Association between Concomitant Diseases (Asthma, Diabetes, Arthritis and Cancer) and Overweight and Obesity among Adults in Puerto Rico
Paula Lorán, MSN, DrPH; Manuel Bayona, MD, MS, PhD; Carolina Álvarez Garriga, MD, DrPH; Ruby A. Serrano-Rodríguez, MS, DrPH

Abstract
Objective: To assess the association between overweight and obesity and chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, arthritis and cancer. Methods: Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2009- 2010) were used (n= 7,522). To calculate the adjusted prevalence of multiple variables, Cox regression was used. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals with diabetes was higher (80.5%) compared with those without the diagnosis, who had a prevalence of 63.1% (p <0.01). Individuals diagnosed with asthma had a higher prevalence (71.4%) of overweight and obesity than those who had no diagnosis of asthma (64.3%) (p <0.01). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals with a history of arthritis was higher (73.9%) compared to those without history of arthritis (64.0%) (p<0.01). In the case of variable cancer, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in individuals with a history of cancer was 71.0%. Those who had no history of cancer had a prevalence of 65.1% (p <0.81). Conclusion: This study confirmed that in Puerto Rico diabetes, asthma and arthritis are associated with overweight and obesity. However, we found no statistically significant association between overweight and obesity and those with a history of cancer.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijn.v2n2a16