Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases and Structural Indicators in an Epidemiological Transition Country

Abstract

Objective: To determine associations between standardized prevalence ratios of Metabolic Syndrome (MS), High Blood Pressure (HBP), and Obesity (O) with structural factors in ecuadorian population aged 20 to 59. Methods: An ecological study was conducted through data from the Ecuador's National Health and Nutrition Survey 2013-2014, and National Census. Standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) variability was analyzed with Poisson multiple regression models (adjusted Relative Risk). Results: The SPR variability for the three diseases was associated with non-affiliation to social security, and inversely related to lower urbanization. HBP and O were associated with functional illiteracy and higher rates of primary care physicians/1000 inhabitants. HBP and MS were related to poor housing. Conclusions: Policies of non-communicable chronic diseases control in ecological transition countries need to take structural variations into account.