Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance Research Articles

Assessment of risk factors for hypertension among undergraduate students in a medical college of Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: Hypertension is a commonest cardiovascular disorder and is major cause of premature death worldwide. An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 years worldwide have hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low and middle-income countries. So present study was undertaken to assess the risk factors for hypertension among First year MBBS students so that suitable preventive measures may be undertaken. Methods: It is cross sectional study conducted among first year MBBS students in DRKGMC Hamirpur. The duration of study is three months. The tools of study used were modified structured pretested self-administered questionnaire; WHO stepwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS). Weighing machine, measuring tape, digital BP apparatus and steadiometer. Results: A total of 115 students of MBBS first year participated in the study. There were a total of 31.3% (36) boys and 68.7% (79) girls. Thirty three percent (38) had a family history of hypertension. 16.52% (19) had a BMI more than the normal. Among the study participants only 5 students (4.35%) used to consume alcohol and smoke cigarettes. Most of study participants consume fast food and junk food. Conclusions: High prevalence of different modifiable risk factors for hypertension revealed among the study subjects.There is need to screen the modifiable risk factors from very early age.

Tobacco consumption in Mozambique in 2005 and 2015.

The burden related to smoking exposure is growing in many low-income settings. We aimed to quantify the use of smoked and smokeless tobacco in Mozambique in 2014/2015, and to compare the estimates with those obtained in 2005. A cross sectional study was conducted in 2014/2015 on a representative sample of the Mozambican population aged 15 to 64 years, following the World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (STEPS). Prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals were computed for different categories of tobacco consumption. The age-standardised prevalence in the age-group 25-64 years was compared with results from a STEPS survey conducted in 2005. Between 2005 and 2014/2015, the prevalence of daily smoking decreased from 9.1% to 3.4% (p < 0.05) in women and from 33.6% to 27.3% (p < 0.05) in men. There was a significant decrease in the daily consumption of hand-rolled cigarettes among women (from 3.1% to 1.4%, p < 0.05). Among men, there was a decrease in the prevalence of daily consumption of smokeless tobacco (from 3.5% to 1.0%, p < 0.05). In 2014/2015, both manufactured and hand-rolled cigarette consumption were more prevalent among men, while the use of smokeless tobacco was more common among women; the consumption of both hand-rolled cigarettes and smokeless tobacco were more prevalent in rural settings. In Mozambique, there was a decrease in the prevalence of daily smokers in both genders and of daily consumption of smokeless tobacco among men between 2005 and 2014/2015. Efforts are needed to maintain the positive trends.

Associations between long-term exposure to air pollution, diabetes, and hypertension in metropolitan Iran: an ecologic study

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies on air pollution, diabetes, and hypertension conflict. This study examined air pollution, diabetes, and hypertension in adults in 11 metropolitan areas of Iran (2012-2016). Local environment departments and the Tehran Air Quality Control Company provided air quality data. The VIZIT website and Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance study delivered chronic disease data. Multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations evaluated air pollution-related diabetes and hypertension. In Isfahan, Ahvaz, and Tehran, PM2.5 was linked to diabetes. In all cities except Urmia, Yasuj, and Yazd, PM2.5 was statistically related to hypertension. O3 was connected to hypertension in Ahvaz, Tehran, and Shiraz, whereas NO2 was not. BMI and gender predict hypertension and diabetes. Diabetes, SBP, and total cholesterol were correlated. Iran's largest cities' poor air quality may promote diabetes and hypertension. PM2.5 impacts many cities' outcomes. Therefore, politicians and specialists have to control air pollution.

Clinical assessment of etiological risk factors of chronic kidney disease in patients admitted for dialysis to a tertiary care hospital

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a reduced glomerular filtration rate, increased urinary albumin excretion, or both, and it is an increasing public health problem with a prevalence of 8–16%. However, there is a paucity of such studies evaluating risk factors among dialysis patients in India and also there could be associated setting specific varied contributory factors. Hence, we have undertaken this study to assess common risk factors in CKD patients admitted for dialysis to a Tertiary Care Hospital. Aims and Objectives: To assess the clinical presentation and the common risk factors in CKD patients admitted for dialysis to tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: The present study was cross-sectional study in which 100 CKD patients admitted to the dialysis unit of tertiary care hospital were included on the basis of predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were analyzed as regards the history of illness, environment, and physical behavior was collected based on various pre-validated questionnaires (The WHO STEP wise approach to chronic disease risk factor Surveillance questionnaire for NCDs, dietary questionnaire, environmental/occupational questionnaire, and patient history questionnaire) in a face-to-face interview with participants and their family members. Etiological Risk Factors and clinical assessment of patients were studied. P&lt;0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results: 49 (49%) of the study participants were from the age group of 41 to 60 years with the mean age of the 51.9±12.3 years. There was a male ponderance with M: F ratio being 1:0.61. The most common underlying condition responsible for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was hypertension (25%) followed by diabetes mellitus (21%), glomerulonephritis (18%), analgesic nephropathy (15%), and renal stones (8%). CKD of unknown etiology was present among 7% and polycystic kidney 6%. Common clinical presentation in studied cases was anorexia (61%) followed by easy fatigability (58%) patients, Facial puffiness (49%), weakness (45%), and oliguria (44%). Conclusion: Male gender, advancing age, and occupational exposure to nephrotoxic metals were the baseline risk factors. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were the two most common comorbidities among ESRD patients which are the important risk factors for progression to ESRD.

Prevalence and knowledge of modifiable cardiovascular diseases risk factors among vulnerable population in Central Tanzania

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the global public health problem which has been associated with increasing prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and knowledge of modifiable CVDs risk factors among vulnerable population of Central Tanzania.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A total of 749 participants were interviewed. The socio-demographic information and modifiable CVDs risk factors (behavioral and biological) were measured using a modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach for chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Knowledge of modifiable CVDs risk factors was measured by comprehensive heart disease knowledge questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the knowledge and prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors.ResultsThe prevalence of béhavioral risk factors were; current smokers and alcohol consumers were 4.4% and 18.0% respectively, use of raw salt was 43.7%, consumption of fruit/vegetables < 5 days per week was 56.9%. The prevalence of Biological CVDs risk factors was as follows: Overall, 63.5% (33.3% overweight and 29.9% obese) were overweight or obese, 4.5% were diabetic and 43.4% were hypertensive. Only 35.4% of participants had adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Being a male (AOR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.01–2.06, p < .05), having primary education (AOR = 6.43, 95%CI = 2.39–17.36, p < .0001), being employed (AOR = 1.59, 95%CI = 1.00-2.52, p < .05), ever checked blood pressure (AOR = 0.59, 95%CI = 0.42–0.84, p < .001), family history of hypertension (AOR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.25–0.57, p < .0001) determined adequate knowledge of CVDs risk factors.ConclusionsThis study has revealed a high prevalence of modifiable CVDs risk factors and low knowledge of CVDs risk factors. Community health promotion interventions to increase population knowledge of CVDs risk factors are recommended for the efficacious reduction of CVDs in the country.

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Young Adults (18-25 Years) in Mozambique.

The life course development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and the undergoing epidemiological transition in Mozambique highlight the importance of monitoring the cardiovascular risk profile in young adults. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of CVD risk factors in a population aged 18-25 years living in Mozambique. A total of 776 young adults from a nationally representative sample were evaluated in 2014/2015 following the World Health Organization's STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Current smoking was the most prevalent among rural men (10.8%, 95%CI: 6.3-17.8), and drinking was most prevalent among urban men (38.6%, 95%CI: 29.3-48.8). The proportion of young adults not engaging in at least 75 min of vigorous physical activity per week ranged between 14.5% in rural men and 61.6% in urban women. The prevalence of being overweight/obese and hypertension were highest among urban women (21.6%, 95%CI: 14.7-30.6) and urban men (25.2%, 95%CI: 15.9-37.6), respectively. Education >8 years (vs. none) was independently associated with lower odds of being a current smoker, and increased monthly household income was associated with increased odds of low levels of physical activity. This study shows that important CVD risk factors are already common in the young adult population of Mozambique.

Tobacco consumption patterns among Iranian adults: a national and sub-national update from the STEPS survey 2021

Smoking is recognised as a critical public health priority due to its enormous health and economic consequences. Constant monitoring of the effectiveness of tobacco control programs calls for timely population-based data. This study reports the national and sub-national patterns in tobacco consumption among Iranian adults based on the results from the STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) survey 2021. This study was performed through an analysis of the results of the STEPS survey 2021 which had been conducted as a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Participants included Iranian adults aged ≥ 18 years in all provinces of Iran, who were selected via multistage cluster sampling method. Data were analyzed via survey analysis while considering population weights. The total number of participants was 27,874, including 15,395 (55.23%) women and 12,479 (44.77%) men. The all-ages prevalence of current tobacco smoking was 14.01% overall, 4.44% among women, and 25.88% among men. The all-ages prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 9.33% overall, 0.77% among women, and 19.95% among men. The all-ages prevalence of current hookah smoking was 4.5% overall, 3.64% among women, and 5.56% among men. The mean (SD) number of cigarettes smoked per day was 12.41 (10.27) overall, 7.65 (8.09) among women, and 12.64 (10.31) among men. The mean (SD) monthly times of hookah use was 0.42 (7.87) overall, 2.86 (23.46) among women, and 0.3 (6.2) among men. The national all-ages prevalence of second-hand smoking at home was 24.64% overall, 27.38% among women, and 20.26% among men. The national all-ages prevalence of second-hand smoking at work was 19.49% overall, 17.33% among women, and 22.94% among men. The tobacco consumption in Iran remains alarmingly high, indicating the current tobacco control policy implementation level is ineffective and insufficient. This calls for adopting, implementing, and enforcing comprehensive packages of evidence-based tobacco control policies.

Trends in major non-communicable diseases and related risk factors in China 2002–2019: an analysis of nationally representative survey data

Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are prioritized in both the Sustainable Development Goal and the Healthy China 2030 Initiatives. Efforts have been devoted to combating NCDs in China. This study examined changes in NCD trajectory. We described and analyzed the trends in prevalence and control of major NCDs including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia and examined selected main behavioral risk factors in China by sex, age group, and residence using nationally representative CDC survey data. Data included were from the China Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance (CCDRFS, 2013 and 2018) and China National Nutrition Survey (CNNS, 2002, 2010-2013, 2015, and 2020). Annual and relative changes in rates were used. Rural-urban ratio of related indicators was assessed. NCD-attributed deaths increased from 80.0% in 2002 to 86.6% in 2012, and 88.5% in 2019, with cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes accounted for 47.1%, 24.1%, 8.8%, and 2.5% of deaths in 2019, respectively. Prevalence of obesity (7.1%-16.4%), overweight/obesity (29.9%-50.7%), hypertension (18.8%-27.5%), diabetes (2.6%-11.9%), and dyslipidemia (18.6%-35.6%) all increased from 2002 to 2018. These rates increased faster in rural areas than in urban areas. Rates of awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and diabetes increased very slowly from 2012 to 2018. Most rates were between 30 and 40% with the lowest rate of 11% for hypertension control even in 2018. The rates were worse for rural residents compared to urban residents. Furthermore, many modifiable behavioral risk factors showed little improvement and some became worse over time, including smoking, excessive alcohol use, inadequate vegetable/fruit intake, excessive red meat intake, and physical inactivity. NCD burden in China increased during 2002-2019 despite of the intervention efforts. To reach the global and national targets, China must strengthen its actions, especially in rural areas, including improvement of NCD screening and management and reduction of behavioral risk factors. The study was supported in part by research grants of National Key R&D Program of China (2017YFC0907200, 2017YFC0907201), International Collaboration Project from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology-Prevention and control of chronic diseases and health promotion (G2021170007L), Natural Scientific Foundation of China (82103846), Key R&D and Transformation Program of Qinghai (2023-QY-204).

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment among adults attending HIV Clinic at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital

Background: The risk of developing chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is a significant public health concern for people living with HIV (PLWH). This recognition has been in place for over a decade. The lack of resources in some settings means that most older PLWH will receive limited care, requiring further research to identify CVD risk and accurate estimation methods. Such research enables the identification of optimal models of care, improving outcomes for this population. Objective: This study aimed to perform a CVD risk assessment (using three different assessment tools) on PLWH attending the HIV clinic at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 311 PLWH was conducted at the HIV Clinic of the KBTH using a questionnaire adopted from the WHO STEP wise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance. Blood pressure, anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were taken for metabolic/biochemical parameters. A retrospective chart review of clinical folders for HIV and ART-related data was done. To determine the level of risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), three estimation methods were used: the 10-year Framingham risk score(FRS), the 10-year WHO/International Society of Hypertension (ISH)risk prediction chart, and the 5-year Data Collection on Adverse Effects of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) cardiovascular risk score. Results: The estimated 10-year moderate to high risk of CVD was 20.6% using the FRS, 13.2% using the WHO/ISH risk score, and 52.4% using the D:A:D score. The majority of study participants were classified as having a low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) according to the FRS and WHO/ISH scoring systems. However, the D:A:D cardiovascular scoring system identified that over 50% of the participants were at a moderate to high risk of developing CVD. Conclusion: This study indicates that when using the D:A:D risk assessment system, over 50% of the individuals who participated were found to have moderate-to-high risks of CVD. This underscores the importance of conducting a cardiovascular risk assessment before initiation of antiretroviral therapy as well as regular assessments to promptly identify and manage these risk factors, thereby aiding in preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Additionally, the findings highlight the need for CVD management to be included in the HIV clinic

Hypertension and associated factors among patients attending HIV clinic at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

This study determined the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among patients attending the HIV clinic at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at KBTH. The prevalence of hypertension was estimated among study participants, and socio-demographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, metabolic and HIV/ART-related factors associated with hypertension were determined by logistic regression modelling. Study participants were recruited from the HIV clinic at the KBTH. A total of 311 Persons Living with HIV were recruited as study participants. Simple random sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. A questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk-factor surveillance was used to collect study participants' data. The prevalence of hypertension was 36.7%, and the factors associated with hypertension were increasing age, positive family history of hypertension, minimal exercising, current BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2, total cholesterol level ≥5.17 mmol/L, exposure to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and increasing duration of ART exposure. This study shows a high prevalence of hypertension among patients attending the HIV clinic at KBTH, associated with exposure to ART and increasing duration of this exposure. Blood pressure monitoring should move from routine to a more purposeful screening of patients for hypertension. Patients with the identified risk factors should be encouraged to have regular blood pressure measurements at home and not only when they visit the HIV clinic. Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID) of the University of Ghana. The funding agency was not involved in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.

National guidelines for the prevention and control of diabetes in primary care (2022)

The prevalence of diabetes in China has increased significantly, and about 11.9% of adults have diabetes. According to the report on chronic disease risk factor surveillance in China 2018, the rates of awareness, treatment and glycemic control of diabetes in China were only 38.0%, 34.1% and 33.1%, respectively. There are rigorous challenges existing in terms of diabetes prevention and glycemic control, especially in primary medical care. Under the guidance of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China and Chinese Medical Association, National Office for Primary Diabetes Care issued the "National guidelines for the prevention and control of diabetes in primary care (2018)" in 2018. To improve the ability of primary health facilities and provide standardized basic public health and medical services throughout the country, the present guideline is released with updating the latest progresses in diabetes research and practice based on the 2018 edition. It is applicable to healthcare providers in primary care for type 2 diabetic patients over 18 years of age, and includes basic requirements for management, workflow of health management, diagnosis, treatment, identification and management of diabetic acute complications and chronic complications, traditional Chinese medicine, referral, and health management.

Combined consideration of body mass index and waist circumference identifies obesity patterns associated with risk of stroke in a Chinese prospective cohort study

BackgroundIn China, few studies have examined the relationship between the combination of body mass index and waist circumference and the risk of stroke. Moreover, the relationship may also be different in different genders. Thus, we investigated the association between the combination of body mass index and waist circumference and the risk of stroke in Chinese.MethodsThis prospective cohort study included 36 632 participants aged 18 to 90 years. Participants were recruited from 60 surveillance sites (25 urban sites and 35 rural sites) across China in 2010 China Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance, and followed up in 2016-2017. Incident cases of stroke were identified through questionnaires (including the basis of clinical diagnosis, imaging tests, time of diagnosis, diagnosis unit) and Cardiovascular Event Report System. Risk factors for stroke were collected at baseline using questionnaire, physical measurements and laboratory tests. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to generate adjusted hazard ratios and 95%CI. All analyses were duplicated by gender stratification.ResultsDuring 6.42 ± 0.50 years of follow-up, 1 333 (597 males, 736 females) stroke events were observed among the 27 112 participants who did not have cardiovascular diseases at baseline. Compared with the general population who have normal weight or underweight with normal WC, those who have normal weight or underweight with abdominal obesity (adjusted hazard ratios 1.45, 95%CI 1.07-1.97 in males; 0.98, 95%CI 0.78-1.24 in females), overweight with abdominal obesity (1.41, 95%CI 1.14-1.75 in males; 1.33, 95%CI 1.10-1.61 in females), obesity with abdominal obesity (1.46, 95%CI 1.11-1.91 in males; 1.46, 95%CI 1.17-1.81 in females). Overweight with normal WC was found to be not statistically significant for both males and females (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis found a multiplicative interaction between age and anthropometric group in females (P for interaction <0.05). Sensitivity analysis results did not change. In the subjects with CVD risk factors, we found a similar relationship as in the general population .ConclusionsCombined assessment of body mass index and waist circumference identifies obesity patterns associated with stroke risk.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Bissau, Western Africa.

Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In Guinea–Bissau there are no previous population‐based hypertension surveys. Therefore, the authors aimed to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure among adults living in Bissau. A sample (n = 973) of dwellers in Bissau, aged 18–69 years, was assembled through stratified and cluster sampling. Patients underwent face‐to‐face interviews and blood pressure measurements following the World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.9%, and 51.4% of hypertensive individuals were aware of their condition, of whom 51.8% reported having received pharmacological treatment in the previous 2 weeks. Among the latter, 49.9% had blood pressure values below 140/90 mm Hg. These findings show that hypertension has become a major public health problem in Guinea‐Bissau, emphasizing the urgent need to develop and implement national strategies for the prevention and management of hypertension.

Poorly controlled hypertension among adults treated for hypertension in Tshwane District, South Africa.

Adequate control of hypertension (HTN) is essential to prevent complications such as cardiovascular and kidney diseases. Despite the use of established clinical protocols on the treatment of HTN in primary health facilities in South Africa, the HTN of many patients remains poorly controlled. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of poorly controlled HTN as well as identify related associated risk factors in a sample of adult attendees in primary health care facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult hypertension clinic attendees at primary health care facilities in Tshwane District, South Africa. Data were collected using the WHO Stepwise instrument on chronic disease risk factor surveillance and anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements. Stata Version 13 was used for data analysis. Of the 327 patients who participated in the study, 72.2% were female and 27.8% were male. Their mean age was 56 years (SD = 10.8 years). The prevalence of uncontrolled HTN was 58%, with the mean systolic BP and diastolic BP of 142.18 and 87.43, respectively. The prevalence of poorly controlled HTN increased with age. Factors associated with poorly controlled HTN were age, gender, being unemployed, source of income, smoking, alcohol use, lack of physical activity, and skipping of medication. By multi-variate analysis, both the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were found to be significantly associated with poorly controlled BP. The high prevalence of poorly controlled BP among patients who are on treatment suggests the need to re-consider the appropriateness of the current integrated management and treatment of HTN used in primary health care facilities in South Africa. The results suggest that the established clinical protocols and standard treatment for HTN are not beneficial for all patients and that physicians should use the treatment response of individual patients to make clinical decisions.

Prevalence of Underweight, Overweight and Obesity among Adults in Urban Bissau, Western Africa.

Overweight and obesity affect a large proportion of the population and are important causes of death in both developed and low- and middle-income countries. In Guinea-Bissau, there are no previous population-based studies assessing this phenomenon. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the prevalence of underweight, overweight, and obesity among adults in Bissau. A stratified and cluster sample of 935 adults was assembled in 2021 and was evaluated using standardized questionnaires and anthropometric measurements, following the World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance. Underweight, obesity, and overweight were defined by body mass index based on the World Health Organization definitions. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 48.7% among women and 25.0% among men. The proportion of women with abdominal obesity was 14 times higher than it was in men (35.3% vs. 2.5%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased with age and income. Underweight was more prevalent in the age group of 18 to 24 years (18.4% in women and 28.9% in men) and was less frequent among individuals with higher socioeconomic status. In conclusion, the prevalence of overweight and obesity is similar to the trends that are observed in many other urbanized populations in Africa and is already a major public health issue in urban Guinea-Bissau.

Obesity and risk for hypertension and diabetes among Kenyan adults: Results from a national survey.

Despite the anticipated growth in the global burden of obesity especially in low-income countries, limited data exist on the contribution of obesity to cardiometabolic diseases in Africa.We examined population-based samples of Kenyan adults who participated in the 2015 national chronic disease risk factor surveillance survey. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and used as a measure for general obesity. Waist circumference (WC), a clinical measure of central obesity was also measured. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between obesity with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia risk.Of the 4276 participants, the median (IQR) age was 36 (27–47) years, 41% were men. One-third (37%) of the participants were centrally obese, whereas 10% were generally obese. The odds for overweight and general obesity were highest among females, adults >40 years, and those in the highest wealth quartile. Central and general obesity, assessed by WC and BMI, were associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia but not diabetes for both sexes. Compared with adults of normal weight, individuals with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2 had an odds ratio of 2.39 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82–3.12) for hypertension and 2.24 (95% CI, 1.70–2.96) for dyslipidemia.Obesity prevalence is high in Kenya and is associated with hypertension and dyslipidemia but not diabetes. Our findings indicate an urgent need to develop public health interventions to address obesity and prevent the development of comorbid conditions.

Trend and pattern of using herbal medicines among people who are aware of their diabetes mellitus: results from National STEPs Surveys in 2005 to 2011 in Iran.

Use of traditional herbal medicines especially by those affected by chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus is important. The objective of this study was to assess trend and Pattern of using traditional herbal medicines by diabetic population in Iran. The results of this study are extracted from the National Stepwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPs), conducted in 2005- 2016 in Iran. A total of 3095 Iranian diabetic individuals, aged more than 25years in 2005, 1470 diabetics in 2006, 1633 diabetics in 2007, 1652 diabetics in 2008, 1563 diabetics in 2009, and 1005 diabetics in 2011 were included in this study. We couldn't use data in 2016 because in 2016, traditional herbal use has not been questioned. First, a descriptive analysis of the study variables and prevalence of herbal use for each year, was performed. Thereafter, to determine which variables were independent predictors of adherence to herbal use, we performed multivariate logistic regression. Using traditional herbal medicines among Iranian adult population was increased from 11.1 (9.98-12.20) in 2005 to 23.5 (20.87-26.25) in 2011. The results show increase in herbal medicine use in all age groups, both urban and rural areas, and both male and female over time. Also, we found that using traditional herbal medicines was more common among female compared with male (24.2% versus 21.8%), older than middle-aged people (24.4% versus 15.9%), and people living in urban areas compared with rural area (24.13% versus 20.95%) in 2011. The use of traditional herbs for treatment, alone or in combination with other therapies by the patients who have diabetes has increased over the time. Considering the high level of using traditional herbal medicines in treatment of diabetes and because of the possible herb-drug interactions, policymakers need to take appropriate interventions to control herb store and increase people's knowledge about the herbal usage.

Chronic diseases of lifestyle risk factor profiles of a South African rural community.

Globally, chronic diseases of lifestyle account for millions of dollars spent annually on health. These diseases share similar risk factors including: physical inactivity, obesity, cigarette smoking, and hypertension among others. This study sought to assess risk factors for chronic diseases of lifestyle of a rural community in South Africa. This study used a survey design with data randomly collected using the WHO STEPS Instrument for Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance from participants who attended routine checks from February to October 2018 from a trained healthcare practitioner. Informed consent was sought from all participants before the administration of the instrument. The research setting was the community Primary Health Center. About 54.0% of participants presented with no family history of hypertension but 19.7% had a family history of type II diabetes mellitus. More women were found to be hypertensive, with the majority (93.4%) monitoring their blood pressure. The study revealed that more men were current smokers. A large number of participants were engaged in a sedentary lifestyle with about one-third of the participants reported being obese. Physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, and hypertension were among the lifestyle-related risk factors for chronic diseases among residents of this rural community.

Association between self-rated health status and risk of stroke in Chinese adults: a prospective study

Objective: To explore the relationship between self-rated health status and risk of stroke in Chinese adults. Methods: Data was collected from the Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance in China (2010) as baseline. A total of 60 follow-up monitors (25 urban and 35 rural) in 11 provinces were selected. A total of 36 195 participants without prior cardiovascular diseases were followed and investigated 27 441 people in 2016 and 2017. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the self-assessed health status and stroke onset hazard ratio (HR), further conducted several subgroup analyses by demographic characteristics such as age and gender, and sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding death and baseline diabetes. Results: A total of 26 699 study subjects were included according to the inclusion criteria. We identified 1 332 stroke cases (32 subarachnoid hemorrhage, 197 cerebral hemorrhage, and 1 149 cerebral infarction) during an average of 6.4 years (171 431.1 person-years) of follow-up, and the incidence density was 7.77/1 000 person-years. After adjusting the related factors, the risk of stroke in participants with poor self-related health increased by 68% (HR=1.68, 95%CI:1.22-2.32) and the risk of ischemic stroke increased by 47% (HR=1.47, 95%CI:1.05-2.05), with a reference of excellent ones. In subgroup analysis, only age and BMI had an effect-modifying effect on the association between self-rated health and risk of stroke. Only age and dyslipidemia had an effect-modifying effect on the association between self-rated health and ischemic stroke risk (interaction P<0.05). The results of the sensitivity analysis were consistent with the results of the total population. Conclusion: People with poor self-assessed health, especially for those who were overweight/obesity with poor self-assessed health or age less than 60 or dyslipidemia are at increased risk of stroke and ischemic stroke and should be targeted for intervention.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity, and Its Associated Factors Among Health-care Workers, Teachers, and Bankers in Arusha City, Tanzania.

BackgroundTanzania is one of the developing countries experiencing an increasing trend of overweight and obesity among adults. Working adults have been identified as a high-risk group more exposed to the predictors of overweight and obesity than the general population. However, limited studies have been done in this group. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of overweight and obesity and its associated risk factors among health-care workers, teachers, and bankers in Arusha city council.Subjects and MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among health-care workers, teachers, and bankers. A total of 305 working adults aged 18–60 years participated in the study. A modified World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach for chronic disease risk factor surveillance was used to collect data about socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, dietary practices and anthropometric measurement. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to collect information about level of physical activities. The anthropometric measurement and level of physical activities were calculated and ranked according to WHO guidelines.ResultsOverall, 68.9% (31.1% overweight and 37.8% obese) of working adults were overweight or obese. Age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR=7.73; 95% CI: 1.93–30.87]), gender (AOR=2.60; 95% CI: 1.30–5.21), marital status (AOR=2.47; 95% CI: 1.11–5.50), years spent with the current institution (AOR=4.59; 95% CI: 1.38–17.80), using private car or public transport to and from work (AOR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.10–5.39) and sedentary work (AOR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.04–5.71), were significant factors associated with overweight or obesity.ConclusionThe study identified a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in Tanzania compared with previous studies. The results from this study are useful for the education sector, financial institutions and health sector on designing workplace wellness programs to reduce the burden of overweight and obesity among this working category.