Effect of a Community Gerontology Program on the Control of Metabolic Syndrome in Mexican Older Adults

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is highly prevalent in older adults; it constitutes a risk factor for cognitive deterioration, frailty, and Alzheimer’s disease. For this reason, the WHO has pointed out the importance of the implementation of community programs for the training of healthy aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a community gerontology program framed in active aging on the control of metabolic syndrome in older adults. Methods: An experimental study was carried out in a convenience sample of 80 older adults diagnosed with MS according to the ATPIII criteria, comprising (1) experimental group (EG), n = 40; (2) control group (CG), n = 40. During a 6-month period, the EG participated in a supervised community gerontology program, and the CG was assessed monthly. Results: A statistically significant decrease was observed in the number of components for the diagnosis of MS. In this regard, of the total of participants with a diagnosis of MS in EG, only 28% maintained the diagnosis of MS (ATPIII ≥ 3 criteria), in contrast to 83% of the CG participants (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that health self-care training within the framework of active aging is effective for the control of MS in older adults.

Keywords: community gerontology model; healthy aging; metabolic syndrome; older adults.

Figure 1

General diagram of the study.

Figure 2

Characteristics of the community gerontology program (CGP). The key element of the CGP is the formation and optimal use of social support networks with the purpose of integrating a gerontological social capital, to develop community gerontology programs, establishing as pillars the promotion of health, empowerment, autonomy, citizenship, and social recognition to adopt self-care for healthy aging through the adoption and strengthening of healthy lifestyles, to maintain, prolong, or recover physical, psychological, and social functioning, within the framework of the organization and monitoring of a “network of social support networks for healthy aging”.

Figure 3

Percentage of the number of MS criteria pre and post-intervention. In (A) (control group) pre-intervention, 28/30 (94%) subjects had 3 MS criteria, 1/30 (3%) had 4 MS criteria, and 1/30 (3%) had 5 MS criteria; post-intervention, 5/30 subjects (17%) changed from 3 to 2 MS criteria, 28/30 (94%) changed to 9/30 (30%) with 3 MS criteria, 1/30 (3%) changed to 12/30 (40%) with 4 MS criteria and 1/30 (3%) changed to 4/30 (13%) with 5 MS criteria. In (B) (experimental group), pre-intervention 28/36 (78%) subjects had 3 MS criteria, 7/36 (19%) had 4 MS criteria, and 1/36 (3%) had 5 MS criteria; post-intervention, 2/36 subjects (6%) changed from 3 to 0 MS criteria, 12/36 (33%) changed from 3 to 1 MS criteria, 12/36 (33%) changed from 3 to 2 MS criteria, 28/36 (78%) changed to 6/36 (16%) 3 MS criteria, 7/36 (19%) changed to 2/36 (6%) with 4 MS criteria, and 1/36 (3%) changed to 2/36 (6%) with 5 MS criteria. Therefore, 25/30 (83%) of the control group, in comparison with 10/36 (28%) of the experimental group, maintained a diagnosis of MS (3 or more components) after the intervention, whose difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001); (A) control group; (B) experimental group.