Abstract
ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence of noncommunicable disease (NCD) risk factors among Saudi university employees and their families; to estimate the cardiovascular risk (CVR) amongst the study population in the following 10years.MethodsThe NCD risk factors prevalence was estimated using a cross-sectional approach for a sample of employees and their families aged ≥ 18 years old, in a Saudi university (Riyadh in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; KSA). WHO STEPwise standardized tools were used to estimate NCD risk factors and the Framingham Coronary Heart Risk Score calculator was used to calculate the CVR.ResultsFive thousand and two hundred subjects were invited, of whom 4,500 participated in the study, providing a response rate of 87%. The mean age of participants was 39.3±13.4 years. The majority of participants reported low fruit/vegetables consumption (88%), and physically inactive (77%). More than two thirds of the cohort was found to be either overweight or obese (72%), where 36% were obese, and 59% had abdominal obesity. Of the total cohort, 22–37% were found to suffer from dyslipidaemia, 22% either diabetes or hypertension, with rather low reported current tobacco use (12%). One quarter of participants was estimated to have >10% risk to develop cardiovascular disease within the following 10-years.ConclusionThe prevalence of NCD risk factors was found to be substantially high among the university employees and their families in this study.
Highlights
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), were reported to be responsible for 64% of the global deaths during 2014 [1], more than 80% of deaths occurred in developing countries [1]
The prevalence of NCD risk factors was found to be substantially high among the university employees and their families in this study
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed a higher burden of NCD mortality which ranged from 65% to 78% of the total adult deaths [1]
Summary
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), were reported to be responsible for 64% of the global deaths during 2014 [1], more than 80% of deaths occurred in developing countries [1]. Eastern Mediterranean region is recognized as the hot-spot of NCD CVDs and diabetes [3]. The trends of NCD showed variations between the countries of Eastern Mediterranean region of different income levels, and where the low income countries are still grappling with communicable diseases, while the tide of NCDs is increasing. Given that the rate of deaths from NCDs in 2014 was ranging from 19% in Somalia to 85% in Egypt and Lebanon [1]. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have witnessed a higher burden of NCD mortality which ranged from 65% to 78% of the total adult deaths [1]
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