Abstract
BackgroundChronic lifestyle diseases share similar modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, tobacco smoking, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia and physical inactivity. Metabolic syndrome refers to the cluster of risk factors that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease.ObjectivesThe study aimed to assess health status and identify distinct risk-factor profiles for both chronic lifestyle diseases and metabolic syndrome in rural and urban communities in central South Africa.MethodsThe investigation formed part of the Assuring Health for All in the Free State (AHA-FS) study. During interviews by trained researchers, household socio-demographic and health information, diet, risk factors (i.e. history of hypertension and/or diabetes) and habits (e.g. smoking and inadequate physical activity levels) were determined. Adult participants underwent anthropometric evaluation, medical examination and blood sampling.ResultsThe risk-factor profile for chronic lifestyle diseases revealed that self-reported hypertension and physical inactivity were ranked the highest risk factor for the rural and urban groups respectively. The cumulative risk-factor profile showed that 40.1% of the rural and 34.4% of the urban study population had three or more risk factors for chronic lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, 52.2% of rural and 39.7% of urban participants had three or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome.ConclusionThis study confirmed that the worldwide increase in the prevalence of chronic lifestyle diseases can be attributed to a more sedentary lifestyle, especially illustrated in the urban study population, and increasing obesity. The rural study population had a higher prevalence of risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
Highlights
Chronic lifestyle diseases are a group of conditions accounting for millions of deaths globally each year
National cause-of-death statistics released by Statistics South Africa in 2005 revealed that 20% of deaths in the 35–64 year age group were a result of chronic lifestyle diseases.[2]
This study confirmed the high prevalence of risk factors for chronic lifestyle diseases and metabolic syndrome in both rural and urban communities in South Africa
Summary
Chronic lifestyle diseases are a group of conditions accounting for millions of deaths globally each year. In 2008, for example, chronic diseases of lifestyle accounted for 36 million deaths worldwide with 80% of these deaths in low-income countries (e.g. Afghanistan and Bangladesh) and middle-income countries (e.g. Algeria and South Africa), with a projected global increase between 2010 and 2020 of 15%.1. National cause-of-death statistics released by Statistics South Africa in 2005 revealed that 20% of deaths in the 35–64 year age group were a result of chronic lifestyle diseases.[2]. Chronic lifestyle diseases share similar modifiable risk factors, including hypertension, tobacco smoking, diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia and physical inactivity. Metabolic syndrome refers to the cluster of risk factors that increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease
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