316 SEVENTEEN-YEAR TRANSITION IN CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN A COHORT OF A RURAL MALAYSIAN COMMUNITY

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is currently the leading cause of death and disability in developed nations and is increasing rapidly in the developing world. Cardiovascular mortality is increasing in the developing countries such as Malaysia but reliable data regarding the determinants of these changes from its rural community are limited. Methodology: In 1993, 290 participants from the rural community of Raub, Pahang in Malaysia took part in a cardiovascular risk factors survey. In 2010, a follow-up survey was conducted and changes in levels of cardiovascular risk factors over 17 years were analysed. Results: The 1993 survey recruited 290 participants (average age 45.19 ± 11.64 years) of whom 56% were females. In 2010, the study participants were resurveyed and their vital status determined. The mean levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol all increased over the 17-year period. Over the same period, the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and obesity were significantly increased from 21.2%, 6.0%, 22.2% and 16.5% to 60.0%, 19.9%, 51.5% and 24.0% respectively. However, smoking prevalence showed no significant difference. Conclusions: The levels of cardiovascular risk factors worsened over the 17-year period between 1993 and 2010 in this rural community. More widespread implementation of community-based initiative inclusive of rural population directed at stemming the increasing burden of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is required to reverse the impending epidemic of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity in developing nations.