Association between food insecurity and chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of food insecurity (FI) with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Brazilian context. METHODS: The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The searches were conducted in LILACS and PubMed databases (September/2022). Observational studies carried out in the Brazilian population published since 2003 were included, in which: (1) the association of FI with NCDs was analyzed; and (2) the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale was used. Studies on pregnant women and those that associated FI with cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases were excluded. The studies were subjected to methodological quality assessment. RESULTS: A total of 27 cross-sectional studies were included; nine used secondary data from national surveys, and the others used primary data. An association between FI and overweight and obesity in different age groups was verified in the studies. CONCLUSION: The included articles did not produce evidence on other NCDs of interest to health in Brazil such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, they corroborate the already-known relationship between obesity and FI. Studies on the topic, with a longitudinal design, should be encouraged.

Association between food insecurity and chronic noncommunicable diseases in Brazil: a systematic review / Associação entre insegurança alimentar e doenças crônicas não transmissíveis no Brasil: uma revisão sistemática

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association of food insecurity (FI) with chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the Brazilian context. Methods: The review protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The searches were conducted in LILACS and PubMed databases (September/2022). Observational studies carried out in the Brazilian population published since 2003 were included, in which: (1) the association of FI with NCDs was analyzed; and (2) the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale was used. Studies on pregnant women and those that associated FI with cancer, sexually transmitted infections, and musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases were excluded. The studies were subjected to methodological quality assessment. Results: A total of 27 cross-sectional studies were included; nine used secondary data from national surveys, and the others used primary data. An association between FI and overweight and obesity in different age groups was verified in the studies. Conclusion: The included articles did not produce evidence on other NCDs of interest to health in Brazil such as diabetes and high blood pressure. However, they corroborate the already-known relationship between obesity and FI. Studies on the topic, with a longitudinal design, should be encouraged.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a associação da insegurança alimentar (IA) com as doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNTs) no contexto brasileiro. Métodos: O protocolo da revisão foi registrado no International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). As buscas foram realizadas na LILACS e na PubMed (setembro/2022). Foram incluídos estudos observacionais realizados com a população brasileira, publicados a partir de 2003, que: (1) analisam a associação da IA com DCNTs; e (2) utilizam a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA). Foram excluídos estudos com gestantes e que associam a IA com câncer, infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e doenças musculoesqueléticas e respiratórias. Os estudos foram submetidos à avaliação da qualidade metodológica. Resultados: Foram incluídos 27 estudos transversais, dentre os quais 9 utilizaram dados secundários de inquéritos nacionais e os demais utilizaram dados primários. Os estudos revelaram associação da IA com sobrepeso e obesidade em diferentes faixas etárias. Conclusão: Os artigos incluídos não produziram evidências sobre outras DCNTs de interesse para a saúde no Brasil, como a diabetes e a hipertensão arterial. No entanto, contribuem para corroborar a relação já conhecida entre obesidade e IA. Estudos sobre a temática, com desenho longitudinal, devem ser incentivados.