Category
Applied
Description
Chronic diseases and nutritional deficiencies are increasing public health concerns in rural and underserved communities in Central America, where limited access to preventive care and routine health screening contributes to undiagnosed risk. This study examined the prevalence and geographic distribution of cardiometabolic and nutrition-related health indicators across rural communities in Guatemala and Honduras. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of community health screening data collected from 2021 and 2023–2025. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, hemoglobin, and blood pressure. Overweight was defined as BMI 25.0–29.9, obesity as BMI =30, elevated blood glucose as =140 mg/dL, hypertension as systolic =140 mmHg or diastolic =90 mmHg, and anemia based on sex-specific hemoglobin thresholds. Differences across communities were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests. A total of 1,466 participants were included. Overall prevalence estimates were 12.1% for hypertension, 8.0% for elevated blood glucose, and 12.9% for anemia. Substantial geographic variation was observed across most outcomes (p < 0.05). Anemia showed the greatest variability, with the highest prevalence in rural Indigenous regions such as Alta Verapaz, while more urbanized regions, such as Sacatepéquez, demonstrated higher levels of obesity and elevated glucose. Some communities demonstrated a dual burden of disease, characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings highlight significant geographic variation in health outcomes and underscore the need for targeted, community specific interventions addressing both nutritional deficiencies and emerging chronic disease risk in underserved populations.
Geographic Variation in Cardiometabolic and Nutrition-Related Health Indicators Across Rural Communities in Guatemala and Honduras
Applied
Chronic diseases and nutritional deficiencies are increasing public health concerns in rural and underserved communities in Central America, where limited access to preventive care and routine health screening contributes to undiagnosed risk. This study examined the prevalence and geographic distribution of cardiometabolic and nutrition-related health indicators across rural communities in Guatemala and Honduras. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of community health screening data collected from 2021 and 2023–2025. Measurements included body mass index (BMI), blood glucose, hemoglobin, and blood pressure. Overweight was defined as BMI 25.0–29.9, obesity as BMI =30, elevated blood glucose as =140 mg/dL, hypertension as systolic =140 mmHg or diastolic =90 mmHg, and anemia based on sex-specific hemoglobin thresholds. Differences across communities were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests. A total of 1,466 participants were included. Overall prevalence estimates were 12.1% for hypertension, 8.0% for elevated blood glucose, and 12.9% for anemia. Substantial geographic variation was observed across most outcomes (p < 0.05). Anemia showed the greatest variability, with the highest prevalence in rural Indigenous regions such as Alta Verapaz, while more urbanized regions, such as Sacatepéquez, demonstrated higher levels of obesity and elevated glucose. Some communities demonstrated a dual burden of disease, characterized by the coexistence of undernutrition and cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings highlight significant geographic variation in health outcomes and underscore the need for targeted, community specific interventions addressing both nutritional deficiencies and emerging chronic disease risk in underserved populations.
