Association Between Area-Level Deprivation and Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors Among the Adult Population in Russia

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of death in the Russian population to date. METHODS: Using generalized estimating equations, we examined the links of area-level socio-economic and environmental deprivation with cardiovascular disease risk factors in the adult population as a whole, as well as in men and women separately. RESULTS: People living in more economically deprived areas had 61 percent higher odds of being obese (Q4: odds ratio (OR) 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20-2.16), 2.32 times higher odds of having chronic kidney disease (OR 2.32; 95% CI: 1.56-3.44), up to 57 percent higher odds of having hyperuricemia (OR 1.57; 95% CI: 1.31-1.88), and up to 80 percent higher odds of having diabetes mellitus (OR 1.80; 95% CI: 1.71-1.89), compared to those in the least deprived areas. Individuals living in the most environmentally deprived areas were associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.19-1.57) and these associations persisted for both when considering men (OR 1.38; 95% CI: 1.19-1.61) and women (OR 1.37; 95% CI: 1.14-1.65) separately. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to examine the relationship of area characteristics with cardio-metabolic risk factors such as elevated blood pressure and prediabetes, taking into account individual characteristics among the Russian population.