Behavioral and demographic correlates of diabetes, hypertension and overweight among the Catawba Indian Nation.
OBJECTIVE
In 1998, the Catawba Diabetes and Health Survey (CDHS) was conducted among adult members of the Catawba Indian Nation living in the Carolinas to determine the prevalence of diabetes and other health conditions, and to assess the population's health-related behaviors.


METHODS
A population-based sample of adult members of the Catawba Indian Nation (N = 633) were surveyed by telephone or in person regarding health status and health-related behaviors. Logistic regression was used to determine demographic and behavioral correlates of diabetes, hypertension, and overweight among the Catawba.


RESULTS
Age-adjusted prevalence rates of self-reported diabetes, hypertension and overweight were 12.3%, 29.1%, and 63.8%, respectively. Older age was related to diabetes, hypertension, and overweight (P<.0001 each), and heavier weight status was related to diabetes (P = .026) and hypertension (P<.0001). Nearly 40% of the Catawba are physically inactive (29.5% men, 46.5% women). Physical inactivity was related to diabetes and hypertension among men only, and related to overweight among women only (P<.05 each). Current smoking was inversely related to overweight among men and women (P = .002). Dietary behavior was not associated with the health outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the high rates of overweight and physical inactivity, reducing the rates of both may be very important for the health of the Catawba, considering their association with diabetes and hypertension.
Levin
S
S
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. slevin@cdc.gov
Mayer-Davis
E J
EJ
Ainsworth
B E
BE
Addy
C L
CL
Wheeler
F C
FC
D000328:Adult; D003469:Culture; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology*; D007198:Indians, North American; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology