Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Low Income Semi-Urban Community in the North-East Nigeria

Abstract

AIM: Adoption of western lifestyles with alterations in diet and activity patterns has been implicated in the increasing risks for cardiovascular disease in low income countries. This study investigated the prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, overweight and obesity as modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in a low income semi-urban community in the Northeast Nigeria. METHOD: 1004 adults who were 20 years and older were recruited through a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. Definition of prehypertension and hypertension were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) /International Society of Hypertension guidelines while the WHO body mass index (BMI) cut-points were used to define overweight and obesity. RESULTS: The mean age, BMI and blood pressure of the participants were 41.5 ± 13.5 years, 22.2±3.73Kg/m2 and 125/78mmHg respectively. The prevalence of prehypertension, hypertension, overweight and obesity were 40.3, 25.2, 15.4 and 3.8% respectively. The Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval) for the hypertension among the obese persons compared with normal weight and overweight participants was 2.75 (1.25–6.04) and 1.62 (0.068–3.82) respectively. CONCLUSION: Prehypertension and hypertension sequentially were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors in the study population. The relative risk for hypertension among obese participants was about three times that of normal weight and about two times that of the overweight participants.