Abstract
IntroductionThere is a growing burden of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries and assessment of cardiovascular health (CVH) may identify populations at risk for poor CVH.MethodsBetween July 2014 and August 2014, we performed a household survey from a convenience sample among adult community members in rural northern Haiti. We used a modified World Health Organization STEPwise approach to chronic disease questionnaire to capture self-reported data on tobacco, diet, physical activity, and diabetes, and measured blood pressure and body mass index. We used an adapted American Heart Association definition and thresholds for determining ideal, intermediate, and poor cardiovascular health. We used linear and logistic regression to examine associations between socio-demographic characteristics with CVH score and ideal CVH.ResultsAmong 540 participants (mean [SD] age = 40.3 [17.1] years, 67% women), there was a high prevalence of poor CVH (n=476, 88.1%) compared with intermediate (n=56, 10.4%) and ideal (n=41, 7.6%) CVH. Ideal metrics for blood pressure (47%) and diet (26%) were least often met, while body weight (84%), physical activity (83%), and smoking (90%) were most often met. Men were associated with better CVH score (0.31, [0.04–0.59]; P=0.03), and being a farmer was associated with ideal CVH (P=0.006).ConclusionIn this community-based sample of a farming community in rural Haiti, very few adults had ideal CVH. Higher CVH score was associated with male sex, and farming as a primary occupation. Women and non-farmers may represent at-risk subgroups within this population. Blood pressure and diet may represent possible areas for improvement.
Highlights
There is a growing burden of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries and assessment of cardiovascular health (CVH) may identify populations at risk for poor CVH
Men were associated with better CVH score (0.31, [0.04–0.59]; P=0.03), and being a farmer was associated with ideal CVH (P=0.006)
In this convenience sample of a rural agrarian community in northern Haiti, we described the distribution of CVH among Haitian adults, and several population characteristics associated with ideal CVH
Summary
There is a growing burden of cardiovascular disease in low- and middle-income countries and assessment of cardiovascular health (CVH) may identify populations at risk for poor CVH. Studies comparing CVH in low- and middleincome countries may have region specific needs to reduce CVD, for example in much of the world men are at greater risk of ischemic heart disease than women, there is no sex difference observed in subSaharan Africa, underscoring the need for regional data.[9] obtaining data at a regional level is extremely important for public health officials to make appropriate guidelines and recommendations The objective of this manuscript is to report the CVH of a community sample of rural Haitians to identify the prevalence of ideal CVH and subpopulations at greatest risk
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