Clustering of chronic disease risks among people accessing community mental health services.

ABSTRACT: This study identified clusters of chronic disease risks and explored associations between clusters and demographic characteristics and mental health conditions, among people accessing community mental health services. Data from a cross-sectional telephone survey of Australian mental health consumers (n = 567) were analysed. Clusters were identified based on tobacco smoking (53.5%), harmful chronic alcohol consumption (20.1%), harmful acute alcohol consumption (43.5%), inadequate fruit and vegetable intake (66.0%), inadequate physical activity (75.5%), inadequate strength activity (81.8%), and high body mass index (BMI) (67.9%), using latent class analysis. Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between cluster membership and participant characteristics. Three groups were identified: Cluster 1 (19.05%) had < 0.5 probabilities for most risks; Cluster 2 (34.04%) had high probabilities of all risks, particularly tobacco smoking and both types of harmful alcohol consumption; and Cluster 3 (46.91%) had high probabilities of both inadequate physical and strength activity, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, and high BMI. Compared to Cluster 1 membership, participants with higher education were less likely to be in either Cluster 2 or 3, females or those over 55 were more likely to be in Cluster 3, those with a substance use disorder were more likely to be in Cluster 2, and those with a personality disorder were less likely to be in Cluster 3. The clustering patterns reinforce the importance of addressing multiple chronic disease risks for people with a mental health condition. Preventive care interventions targeting clusters of risks may help reduce the burden of chronic disease among this high-risk population.

SUBMITTER: Regan C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9256721 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature