Cardiovascular risk factors: distribution and prevalence in a rural population of Bangladesh.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Little is known about the cardiovascular risk factors in the Bangladeshi population. We examined 'classic' risk factors, including central obesity, in a rural population.

METHODS:

Non-biochemical variables were examined in 238 men and 272 women aged 18 years or more (mean +/- standard deviation 38.1 +/- 10.7 years in men and 36.0 +/- 9.8 in women). Fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol concentrations were determined in a sub-sample of 106 men and 135 women.

RESULTS:

Men and women had a similar body mass index (20.4 +/- 3.1 vs 20.8 +/- 3.4 kg/m2), waist circumference (72.8 +/- 7.6 vs 71.4 +/- 8.7 cm), systolic blood pressure (118.4 +/- 13.7 vs 119.5 +/- 17.7 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (75.9 +/- 9.9 vs 74.6 +/- 11.5 mmHg), total cholesterol (155.7 +/- 36.0 vs 162.0 +/- 35.2 mg/dl) and blood glucose level (89.0 +/- 14.9 vs 86.2 +/- 9.6 mg/dl. After categorization of these variables, the prevalence of thinness (body mass index < 18.5; 30.0 vs 30.3%), obesity (body mass index > or = 30; 0.8 vs 1.1%), hypertension (systolic blood pressure > or = 140 and/or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 or medication; 9.8 vs 15.6%), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > or = 240; 2.8 vs 3.0%) and diabetes mellitus (blood glucose > or = 126; 2.9 vs 0.7%) remained similar between the sexes. However, central obesity (waist circumference > or = 94 cm in men and > or = 80 cm in women) was less frequent (2.9 vs 16.8%; P = 0.001) in men. Overall, tobacco consumption (57.1 vs 23.2%; P = 0.001) and smoking (50.3% vs 2.9%; P = 0.001) were more frequent in men, but chewing tobacco consumption was similar (16.3 vs 21.4%; P = 0.095).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our sample size is small, and larger studies are necessary for a more accurate description of the risk factors.

• Authors: M M Zaman, N Yoshiike, M A Rouf, M H Syeed, M R Khan, S Haque, H Mahtab, H Tanaka
• Journal: Journal of cardiovascular risk (J Cardiovasc Risk) Vol. 8 Issue 2 Pg. 103-8 (Apr 2001) ISSN: 1350-6277 [Print] England
• PMID: 11324369 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Bangladesh (epidemiology)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (epidemiology, etiology)
• Chi-Square Distribution
• Diabetes Mellitus (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypercholesterolemia (epidemiology)
• Hypertension (epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (epidemiology)
• Prevalence
• Risk Factors
• Rural Population
• Sex Factors
• Smoking (epidemiology)