Characteristics and Cluster of Lifestyle Factors in Neurological Outpatients

Abstract

Objective: Neurological disorders are increasing, because of demographic and epidemiologic changes occurring in both developed and developing countries. This study was aimed at examining and clustering lifestyle factors in an Italian sample of neurological outpatients. Material and Methods: A total of 153 subjects were recruited from the ambulatory Unit Operative Complex of neurology, of S. Eugenio Hospital in Rome. This study was conducted from January, 2017 to May, 2019. Body Mass Index (general obesity) and Waist Circumference (abdominal obesity) were used as outcome measures. Lifestyle behaviours were assessed via questionnaires. Results: The percentage of overweight/obesity was74.0% (77.0% in males and 70.0% in females); whereas, the percentage of subjects with abdominal obesity (67.0%) was significantly higher in females than in males (76.0% vs 60.0%, p-value= 0.038). Also, among patients suffering from neurological diseases there was a significant prevalence of: (i) males, (ii) subjects with low education levels, iii) elderly adults (aged over 75), and iv) people having a significantly lower percentage of appropriate hours of sleep. Three clusters were identified for males and four for females, according to lifestyles. The ‘unhealthy habits’ cluster, dominant among males (38.4%), was characterized by high prevalence of overweight/obese, and abdominal obese subjects; high prevalence of wine and alcoholic beverages consumers, high prevalence of inactive subjects; especially in females and high prevalence of neurological diseases among males. Conclusion: The clusters were identified according to lifestyles, and the main, important findings showed a high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyle clustering was dominant among male, elderly people with neurological diseases.

Keywords

• cluster, lifestyle factors
• neurological diseases
• overweight/obesity