High prevalence, and clustering of lifestyle and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among rural adolescents in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an immense global problem with serious economic and social consequences. Lifestyle risk factors for CVD have been identified internationally in adolescents where early intervention programs have the potential to reduce CVD risk on individual and population levels. In developing countries such as Nigeria, little is known about the prevalence of mutable CVD risk factors among adolescents especially in the rural areas. Purpose: To ascertain the prevalence, multiplicity and clustering of CVD risk factors among rural adolescents. Methods: This paper reports on a cross sectional survey ofmutable CVD risks among rural adolescents in South-West Nigeria. All 1518 years old adolescents in all the schools at Ibarapa central local government were approached and all those who assented/consented to participate in the studywere involved.A total of 1500 adolescents participated in the study. Measurements of CVD risks factors taken were; smoking, physical activity, alcohol, dietary pattern using a questionnaire developed by authors. Other CVD risk factors such as blood pressure, waist hip ratio and BMI were taken using standardized instruments. All measurements were taken once except blood pressure which was taken twice or thrice to determine hypertension. Data was analyzed descriptively. Results: Of 2500 adolescents approached to participate in the study, 1500 agreed. However, data from 1079 adolescents (56.5% male and 53.5% female) were analysed. Mean age of male was 16.4± 1.14 and mean age for female was 16.29± 1.13 Low physical activity levels were prevalent in 27.9%, 10.2% had hazardous alcohol intake, and hypertension was observed in 4.0%. The study showed abdominal obesity in 15% and overall obesity in 1.4%. Smoking was prevalent in 7.1% the adolescents. A high cholesterol diet was reported by 58.9% and 65% had high salt intake. Clustering of certain risk factors ranged between 3.6% and 7.5%. Clustering is used to denote presence of multiple risk factors especially those risk factors that predispose particpants to metabolic syndrome and heart disease; they are obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and low physical activity. Conclusion(s): The high prevalence of CVD risk factors among rural adolescents in South Western Nigeria suggests that urgent primary prevention programs are required to prevent the next generation of Nigerians from suffering CVD. Implications: There is the need for urgent primary prevention program for rural adolescents CVD is looming except prevention strategies are employed and health promotion is enhanced in schools especially in the area of physical activity and diet.