The Metabolic Triad: Trends and Determinants of the Isolated and Combined Presence of Hypertension, Obesity, and Diabetes in Peru

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, the presence of non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension (HTN), obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has emerged as a significant threat to global public health. Objective: To determine the trends and factors associated with these diseases' isolated and combined presence in both dual and triple forms (metabolic triad). Methods: Secondary data analysis from the Demographic and Family Health Survey for 2014 to 2022. The primary variable had seven categories, ranging from isolated states to triple combinations. Given the polytomous nature of the dependent variable, multinomial logistic regression models were constructed. The results of these models are presented in the form of adjusted odds ratios, accompanied by their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Among the isolated forms, obesity was the most prevalent comorbidity (15.35%), while T2DM was the least common (1.14%). Among the combined forms, the most frequent was obesity and HTN (6.40%). The prevalence of the metabolic triad was low (0.84%). The factors commonly related to each were female sex, age, urban residency, region, economic level, daily smoking, alcohol consumption, and altitude. Conclusions: An increasing prevalence of HTN, T2DM, and obesity was found, both individually and in their various combinations. Furthermore, the complexity and sometimes contradictory nature of the associated factors, which can increase or decrease the presence of these metabolic diseases, reflect the need for a personalized approach to prevention and treatment.