Prevalence of Risk Factors Related to Non- Communicable Diseases among Health Center Staff of Karaj, Alborz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the most common causes of mortality worldwide. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prevalence of risk factors related to NCDs among health center personnel who worked in this field.Methods: Two hundreds and ten females and 73 males from health center staff in Karaj, Alborz, Iran with the mean age of 40.55±0.48 years were randomly recruited in this cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical variables related to NCDs were collected by an expert. The relationship between risk factors and NCDs was investigated too.Results: The mean body mass index (BMI), and waist and neck circumferences were 26.8±0.25 kg/m2, 88.01±0.65, and 35.58±0.02, respectively. Totally, 65.2% of study population were overweight and obese, and about 40% had abdominal obesity. Approximately, 59.5% were inactive, and 1.8% and 7.3% had high systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. About 15.8% and 29% of them had fasting blood sugar (FBS) and cholesterol above the normal level, respectively. BMI had a positive correlation with age, occupation and blood factors and a negative relationship with physical activity.Conclusion: The prevalence of associated risk factors of NCDs especially the obesity, and physical inactivity was high among Karaj health center staff. Regarding the role of BMI in NCDs, the modification in BMI and an increase in physical activity can be effective to decrease NCDs.