Sociodemographic differentials of selected noncommunicable diseases risk factors among adults in Matlab, Bangladesh: findings from a WHO STEPS survey

The study examined noncommunicable diseases risk factors among adults 25 to 64 years old of the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System using World Health Organization STEP-wise methodology. The prevalence of smoking was found to be very high for males (53.9%) and it increased initially with age, whereas smoking was almost nil for females (0.8%). About 30% each of males and females used smokeless tobacco and its consumption increased with age. Consumption of vegetable/fruit is very low in this population (90% below recommended level), whereas one third of males and two thirds of female have low levels of physical activities. The raised blood pressure was more prevalent among females than in males (21.0% vs 12.5%, respectively) and the same was true for being overweight (13.9% vs 10.3%, respectively). Raised blood pressure increased with age but overweight did not vary by age for males, whereas it increased initially for females. Smoking (males) and use of smokeless tobacco decreased with increase in education, but both blood pressure and overweight increased.     

Risk and protective factors for chronic non-communicable diseases: the VIGITEL telephone disease surveillance system, Brazil, 2007

This article describes the prevalence of risk and protective factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in Brazil, using data collected in 2007 through the telephone disease surveillance system (VIGITEL). We evaluated 54,252 adults residing in Brazil's State capitals and Federal District. Men showed higher rates of smoking, overweight, consumption of soft drinks and fatty meat, sufficient leisure-time physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and binge drinking; women showed higher consumption of fruits and vegetables. For men with more schooling, the probability of smoking decreased by 42% and consumption of fatty meat decreased by 31%; overweight increased 86%, sedentary lifestyle 42%, regular consumption of fruits and vegetables 89%, and leisure-time physical activity 78%. For women with more schooling, the probability of smoking decreased 31%, overweight 26%, and consumption of fatty meat 35%; sedentary lifestyle increased 76%, leisure-time physical activity 77%, regular consumption of fruits and vegetables 48%, and recommended consumption of fruits and vegetables 75%.     

Health risk behaviors, health status self-assessment and stress perception among industrial workers]

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence and association among health risk behaviors, stress perception, and health status self-assessment among industrial workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed using a questionnaire previously tested in a pilot study in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Data on smoking, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetables intake, physical activity, stress perception, and self-assessment of health status were available for 4,225 workers (67.5% males and 32.5% females). Subjects were selected using a 3-stage cluster sampling (5% error margin). Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square, and logistic regression analysis (p<0.05). RESULTS: The mean age was 29.7 years old (SD=8.6). The prevalence of smokers was 20.6%, higher among males (23.1%) than females (15.6%). The proportion of heavy drinkers was high (57.2% among males and 18.8% among females). Almost half of the subjects (46.2%) reported no leisure-time physical activity (67% females and 34.8% males). Approximately 14% of subjects reported high levels of stress and difficulty to cope with daily tasks. About 15% of the workers perceived their health status as regular or poor. Gender, age, marital status, number of children, educational level and economic status were significantly associated with the prevalence of health risk behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limitations of cross-sectional studies, based on self-report assessments, the study results suggest a high prevalence of alcohol consumption and physical inactivity during leisure time. The observed association between gender and health risk behavior suggests that both sexes engage in risk behaviors: for men these behaviors are direct or active (smoking, alcohol consumption) and for women, they are more indirect or passive (physical inactivity, stress).     

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the city of Bremen — The 1984 Bremen baseline health survey of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study

Both an introduction to the 1984 Bremen baseline health survey of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study and preliminary results therefrom regarding the prevalence of the classical cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (high blood pressure, smoking, hypercholesterolemia and overweight) are presented here. German males and females, 25–69 years of age and resident in Bremen-North and Bremen-West comprised the study population. Of these, about one in five were hypertensive, 40% were smokers, around one-third possessed too high levels of serum cholesterol and 60% were overweight (circa 20% were severely overweight). Males and younger persons smoked more. The prevalence of hypertension, hyper-cholesterolemia and overweight were similar for the two sexes overall; however, these rates were shown higher among males than females at younger ages, while the opposite was true at older ages. The increase in prevalence of high blood pressure, hypercholes-terolemia and overweight with age, more conspicuous among females, was also noted. Bremen appears to be at higher CVD risk than other German-speaking communities.     

Dietary intake among young adolescents in Ontario: associations with vegetarian status and attitude toward health

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe the dietary intakes of adolescent vegetarians and omnivores and determine if, and how, attitude toward personal health related to food consumption. METHODS: Among grade 9 students in Ontario, Canada (n = 630), vegetarian status and estimated consumption of foods and food groups were determined by food frequency questionnaire. Personal health was self-categorized as very important (the "health conscious") or somewhat/not important (the "non-health conscious"). RESULTS: The prevalence of vegetarianism was 6.5% (CI = 4.6-8.4%) among females and 1.0% (CI = 0.2-1.8%) among males. Health-conscious omnivores consumed more grain, vegetables and fruit, and milk product than non-health-conscious omnivores (P < 0.05). Health-conscious vegetarians ingested more grain products, vegetables and fruit, and meat and alternatives than non-health-conscious vegetarians (P < 0.05). Among non-health-conscious vegetarians, none consumed two daily servings of meat and alternatives compared to 60.5% of non-health-conscious omnivores (P < 0.001). Among health-conscious vegetarians, milk product consumption was lower than that of health-conscious omnivores (P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Large proportions of both vegetarian and omnivore adolescents consumed suboptimal diets. Health consciousness had value as an indicator of dietary adequacy and may be useful as a rudimentary screen for problematic dietary consumption patterns.     

Prevalence of selected cardiovascular disease risk factors in 35-54-year-old males and females in eight Iowa counties

The purpose of this study was to examine prevalence of selected cardiovascular disease risk factors in eight Iowa counties. From a random sample of 35-54-year-old males and females in eight counties, data were collected on smoking, blood pressure, exercise, body weight, and diet. Thirty-one percent of the females and 29% of the males were current smokers. Twenty-two percent had elevated blood pressure on a single measure and 55% of these were previously undetected. Twenty-eight percent engaged in regular exercise. The most popular forms of exercise were walking and bicycling. The prevalence of overweight in females and males was 36 and 46%, respectively. Percentage of males classified as overweight was higher than in national studies. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls showed males receiving at least 100% of their RDAs for eight indicator nutrients and females receiving at least 100% of the RDAs for all but calcium and iron. The diet appeared to be higher in fat (39% energy from fat) and saturated fat (P/S = 0.46) than the national diet and to include less consumption of low-fat dairy products and fish.     

Time trend of obesity, the metabolic syndrome and related dietary pattern in Taiwan: from NAHSIT 1993-1996 to NAHSIT 2005-2008

Obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are challenging public health issues as globesity popularizes. The present study illustrates the trend of obesity and MetS for the last 12 years in Taiwan based on the analysis of Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan. Between the two surveys, a large growth on MetS prevalence was observed, from 13.6% to 25.5%. In NAHSIT 2005-2008, the prevalence of MetS in females exceeded that of males in people older than the age of 45. With regard to regional differences, the growing prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndromes alleviated in the northern area level one, the most urbanized and dense area. Prevalence of obesity and MetS in Hakka, central, and southern areas increased rapidly. Aboriginal areas had the highest prevalence, which increased modestly. Prevalence of MetS rose fast among males, but much slower among females. Comparing the Taiwanese data with other countries, obesity prevalence in Taiwan was higher than in many of Asian countries, but less than in the West. The prevalence of MetS in Taiwanese females reached levels close to that of the West. Reduced rank regression analysis was used to extract a risk reducing dietary pattern in women, featured by not only more vegetables, fruit, lean meat, and fish, but also some specific Taiwanese dietary items including mushrooms, seaweed, and soybean. No apparent increase in intake of certain healthy foods including lean meat, milk, dark-green vegetables, and fruit in the last 12 years, challenges future strategies to promote health.     

Health insurance users: self-reported morbidity and access to preventive tests according to a telephone survey, Brazil, 2008

This article describes a telephone survey in 2008 to monitor non-communicable diseases. The study population consisted of adults (> 18 years of age) living in households with landline telephones in the 27 Brazilian State Capitals. The selected variables are presented according to health insurance coverage (yes/no), gender, and adjusted prevalence ratios between populations with and without health insurance. The results represent 54,353 persons 18 years or older, 41.8% of whom with health insurance. Health insurance coverage tended to increase with age and schooling. Compared to those without health insurance, men with health coverage were more likely to have a diagnosis of dyslipidemia, and women with coverage were more likely to have had a mammogram, Pap smear, and diagnosis of dyslipidemia and/or osteoporosis, besides showing less arterial hypertension and infrequent poor health status. This information is essential to support health promotion and prevention with appropriate programs.     

Alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking in gastric cancer. A case-control study

This study compares 210 cases of cancer of the stomach (138 males and 72 females) with 630 controls (414 males and 216 females) afflicted with a wide variety of diseases. All patients (cases and controls) were admitted for treatment at the University Hospital of Montevideo, Uruguay in the time period July 1985-December 1988. They were submitted to the same detailed questionnaire by 3 social workers unaware of the objectives of the study. The analysis was performed at the Louisiana State University of New Orleans, using multiple logistic regression. The variables analyzed were cigarette smoking, alcohol ingestion, salted meat intake, total vegetable consumption, total fruit consumption and "mate" ingestion. Strong positive associations were found in both sexes for low fruit and vegetable consumption, high intake of salted meat and "mate" ingestion. Only males showed significantly elevated OR's for tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. Of the main tobacco variables, time-dependent one's (age at start, duration) displayed significant gradients of increasing risks. Thus, a prolonged exposure seems more important than the amount smoked per day for the risk of developing gastric carcinoma. Both wine and hard liquor carried increased OR's, but heavy drinkers of wine displayed a six-fold increase in risk, replicating previous reports from France.     

Overweight: socio-demographic and behavioral determinants in Brazilian adults, 2008

This article aims to identify socio-demographic and behavioral determinants of overweight among Brazilian adults living in State capitals and the Federal District, using data collected by a telephone survey for surveillance of risk and protective factors in 2008. The outcome variable was overweight, and the independent variables were socio-demographics, behavioral factors, and nutritional status at 20 years of age. The overweight rate was 44.4%. Socio-demographic factors associated with overweight were age and marital status (married) in both genders, higher schooling in men, and lower schooling in women. With the exception of overweight at 20 years of age, behavioral factors were associated differently with overweight according to gender (leisure-time physical inactivity in males and dietary patterns and watching television among females). The behavioral determinants of overweight differed between men and women, thus indicating the need for diverse gender-specific strategies.     

A brief assessment of eating habits and weight gain in a Mediterranean cohort

Assessment of eating habits (EH) through closed questions could be an alternative tool to assess diet as a predictor of weight change in epidemiological studies. The aim was to assess the association between baseline EH and the risk of weight gain or becoming overweight/obese in a Spanish dynamic prospective cohort (the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra Project) of 10?509 participants. The baseline questionnaire included ten short questions with two possible answers: yes or no. We calculated a baseline EH score, categorised in quartiles, positively weighting answers on more fruit, vegetables, fish and fibre and less meat, sweets and pastries, fat, butter, fatty meats and added sugar in drinks. Reducing the consumption of meat or fat and removing fat from meat were significantly associated with lower weight gain. The partial correlation coefficient between EH score and weight change was -?0·033 (P?=?0·001). We observed 1063 cases of incident overweight/obesity among 7217 participants without overweight/obesity at baseline. Trying to eat more fruit, fish or fibre and less meat was inversely significantly associated with incident overweight/obesity. Those participants in the upper quartile of the score were at a 38?% (adjusted OR 0·62; 95?% CI 0·48, 0·81) lower risk of developing overweight/obesity during the follow-up compared with those in the lower quartile. However, the receiver-operating characteristic curves for the model with and without the EH score were materially identical. Despite the apparent significant inverse association, this score had a low predictive value for future weight gain and for incident overweight/obesity in a Mediterranean population, although some EH were independently and positively associated with weight gain.     

Clustering patterns of behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Bangladeshi adolescents: A population-based study

ObjectivesTo examine the clustering of major behavioural risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among adolescents in Bangladesh.MethodsNationally representative data from the 2014 Bangladesh Global School-based Student Health Survey were analysed in 2,978 adolescents (mean age: 14.2 SD 0.99; 60.0% females). We compared the observed (O) to expected (E) prevalence ratios of 64 possible combinations of the six behavioural risk factors (i.e., physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, low fruit and vegetable intake, and overweight/obesity) to determine their clustering patterns. Poisson regression was used to examine the associations.ResultsThe most common single risk factor was low fruit and vegetable intake, followed by physical inactivity (87% and 59%, respectively). Overall, 18% of the adolescents had three or more risk factors, with males reporting higher prevalence than females (21% vs. 11%). The simultaneous occurrence of low fruit and vegetable intake, and physical inactivity was 30% greater in males (O/E ratio: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.4) and 20% greater in females (1.2, 1.2–1.3) than what was expected if there was no clustering. The analysis also demonstrated clustering of low fruit and vegetable, overweight/obesity, and high sedentary behaviour (2.5, 1.3–4.9), and low fruit and vegetable, overweight/obesity, and physical inactivity (1.4, 1.1–2.0) for males.ConclusionsThis study fills the gap in the scientific literature by providing evidence that behavioural risk factors tend to cluster among adolescents in Bangladesh. Early prevention programs with evidence-based strategies need to target adolescents who are at a greater risk of engaging in multiple risk behaviours.     

广州地区人群高尿酸血症的调查分析

目的: 了解广州市人群的血尿酸水平,探讨高尿酸血症的膳食影响因素,为高尿酸血症的地区防治提供依据。方法: 测定748名广州市常住居民血尿酸和体质指数,并进行膳食问卷,分析体重和饮食习惯与高尿酸血症的相关性。结果: 男性血尿酸均值为384.6±74.8 mmol/L,女性为286.3±65.3 mmol/L(P<0.01);男性高尿酸血症的患病率为13.8%,女性为11.9%,合计为13.2 %。超重/肥胖者血尿酸水平显著高于正常体重者(P<0.01),肥胖者高尿酸血症的检出率为19.4%,是正常体重者的2.43倍。饮食因素中,饮酒、海鲜、肉制的例汤是广州地区人群高尿酸血症的相关危险因素,而蔬菜、水果呈负相关。结论: 广州市人群的血尿酸水平上升,且有年轻化趋势。适当的减重及合理的膳食指导是防治高尿酸血症的有效措施。     

Prevalence of Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases in a District of Gujarat,India

The study attempted to identify the prevalence and distribution of risk factors of non-communicable diseases among urban and rural population in Gujarat, India. Using the WHO stepwise approach, a cross-sectional study was carried out among 1,805 urban and 1,684 rural people of 15-64 years age-group. Information on behavioural and physiological risk factors of non-communicable diseases was obtained through standardized protocol. High prevalence of smoking (22.8%) and the use of smokeless tobacco (43.4%) were observed among rural men compared to urban men (smoking-12.8% and smokeless tobacco consumption-23.1%). There was a significant difference in the average consumption of fruits and vegetables between urban (2.18±1.59 servings) and rural (1.78±1.48 servings) area. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed to be high among urban men and women in all age-groups compared to rural men and women. Prevalence of behavioural risk factors, overweight, and obesity increased with age in both the areas. Twenty-nine percent of the urban residents and 15.4% of the rural residents were found to have raised blood pressure, and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). For both men and women, the prevalence of overweight and obesity, hypertension, and lack of physical activities were significantly higher in the urban population while smoking, smokeless tobacco consumption, poor consumption of fruits and vegetables were more prevalent in the rural population. The results highlight the need for interventions and approaches for the prevention of risk factors of non-communicable diseases in rural and urban areas.Key words: Cross-sectional study, Non-communicable diseases, Risk factors, WHO STEPS     

Weight management goals and practices among U.S. high school students: associations with physical activity, diet, and smoking.

PURPOSE: To examine associations of physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and cigarette smoking with weight management goals and practices of U.S. high school students.METHODS: Data were from the 1999 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a representative sample of U.S. high school students (n = 15,349). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated to describe associations, controlling for demographic characteristics.RESULTS: Based on self-reported height and weight, 25% of students were either overweight (11%) or at risk for becoming overweight (14%). However, 43% of students were trying to lose weight and 19% of students were trying to maintain their current weight. Female students were less likely than male students to be overweight, but more likely to be trying to lose weight. Trying to lose weight was associated with vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.5), strengthening exercises (OR = 2.2), and cigarette smoking (OR = 1.4) among female students; and vigorous physical activity (OR = 1.6), strengthening exercises (OR = 1.8), and eating > or =5 servings/day of fruits and vegetables (OR = 1.5) among male students. Among students trying to lose weight or stay the same weight, only 62% of females and 41% of males combined exercise with a reduced fat and calorie diet, while 32% of females and 17% of males used unhealthy weight control methods (fasting, diet pills, vomiting, or laxatives).CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to promote healthy weight management among adolescents are needed and should place greater emphasis on combining physical activity with a reduced fat and calorie diet, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and discouraging smoking and other unhealthy weight control practices.     

河北省农村居民营养与健康状况调查分析

目的了解1992年全国营养调查以后河北省农村居民膳食结构,营养素摄入和健康状况的变化及其趋势。方法对3367户农村家庭11627人进行了体格检查获得身高、体重、血压并采血检测血红蛋白、血脂、空腹血糖,诊断和统计超重、肥胖、高血压、贫血、血脂异常、糖尿病、空腹血糖受损等患病率;同时对其中1080户进行膳食调查获得人均日食物消费量和营养素摄入量,综合评价居民膳食结构和健康状况。结果调查表明目前河北农村居民食物消费是植物性膳食模式,与1992年相比膳食结构与营养状况发生了较大的变化:谷类食品消费减少,肉与肉制品、蛋奶豆类及其制品消费比10年前增加但仍不足,油脂消费增加超过平衡膳食宝塔提出的参考摄入量,食盐摄入过多,钙、维生素A摄入严重不足。与10年前比较学龄儿童青少年身高、体重增加显著;18岁以上成人标化患病率:超重率30·4%,肥胖率13·4%,高血压率25·9%,糖尿病率1·8%,糖耐量受损率0·98%,血脂异常率25·0%;单项血脂成分患病率:高甘油三脂血症15·3%,高胆固醇血症3·2%,胆固醇边缘升高3·5%,低高密度脂蛋白血症10·8%;贫血标化患病率8·7%,贫血高发年龄是学龄前儿童(16·5%)和青年妇女(16%)。结论河北农村18岁及以上成人人群超重、肥胖、高血压、血脂异常等患病率高于全国水平;农村居民膳食结构、饮食和健康问题需要高度关注,由于营养引起慢性病患病形势严峻,急需加强膳食指导和营养干预,保障人们的身体健康。     

机关职业人群高尿酸血症与心血管疾病危险因素相关性调查

目的调查机关职业人群高尿酸血症(HUA)患病率,分析心血管疾病危险因素与HUA患病的相关性。方法对北京市2014~2016年参加健康体检的4 735名机关干部和公务员进行横断面调查,应用Logistic回归分析HUA患病率与超重或肥胖、高血压、高血糖和血脂异常检出率的相关性。结果总体HUA患病率为8.91﹪,其中男性为9.86%,女性为5.87%,男性HUA患病率高于女性(P<0.01)。男性HUA患病的独立危险因素为血脂异常、高血压、超重或肥胖(P<0.01);女性HUA患病的独立危险因素为年龄、血脂异常、高血糖、高血压、超重或肥胖(P<0.05)。结论 HUA的发生与心血管疾病危险因素中的超重或肥胖、血脂异常和高血压的关联强度较为明显,需建立以饮食治疗和改善生活方式为基础的干预措施,以减少相关危险因素的暴露水平。     

Dietary habits of smokers, people who never smoked, and exsmokers

A large database on hospital patients with illnesses not related to tobacco or alcohol was used to investigate the dietary habits of males and females who never smoked, who were exsmokers, and who currently smoked. Smoking was positively related to meat consumption and negatively related to cereal consumption in males. Both male and female smokers consumed fewer vegetables and fruits but more alcohol and coffee than did people who never smoked. Exsmokers' diets were similar to those of people who never smoked. These results emphasize the importance of ruling out potential confounders or effect modifiers when studying the role of meat, milk, fruits, vegetables, cereal, coffee, or alcohol intake in the etiology of tobacco-related diseases.     

Lipoprotein profile in elderly persons from northwestern Spain consuming the Atlantic diet, a variant of the Mediterranean diet

To screen some cardiovascular risk factors in institutionalized elderly persons of the Spanish Northwest who consume the Atlantic variant of the Mediterranean diet, rich in vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, olive oil and dairy products, anthropometric and dietary measurements were carried out and serum glucose and lipoprotein values were determined in 94 subjects. Men consumed significantly more legumes, fruit, meat, alcohol and precooked foods but fewer vegetables than women. Significant positive correlations were found between total fat and MUFA consumption and HDL-cholesterol. Fish intake correlated negatively with total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol. The prevalence of high TC, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and TC/HDL-cholesterol levels was 29%, 37%, 21%, 25% respectively, and that of low HDL-cholesterol was 15%. Women displayed a higher prevalence of dyslipemia, with significantly higher TC and higher LDL-cholesterol levels than men. Fifty percent of the women aged 75-80 presented concurrent hyperglycemia, excess weight and hypertriglyceridemia, predisposing them to the metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, as regards the lipoprotein profile, the Atlantic diet appears appropriate for most institutionalized elderly persons.     

Atherosclerosis--epidemiological studies on the health effects of a Mediterranean diet

Mediterranean diets are characterized by olive oil, as the dominant fat source and a high to moderate consumption of fruit and vegetables, cereal products, fish, legumes, in combination with little meat and wine with meals. The "reference" Mediterranean diet seems to differ according to country, but is associated with good health and a long life expectancy. From the Seven Countries Studies, it has been shown that especially the traditional Cretan diet was associated with very low 25-year mortality rates for coronary heart disease, cancer and all-causes. In terms of nutrients and bioactive compounds the "reference" Mediterranean diet is low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fatty acids, high in antioxidants especially vitamin C and E, and high in fiber and folic acid. Several epidemiological studies have investigated these dietary components either separately or in combination in other than Mediterranean populations. In general, also in other populations beneficial effects on the coronary risk profile have been observed, which gives further support to the positive health effects of the Mediterranean diet. Intervention studies in East Finland and Southern Italy have convincingly shown that the coronary risk profile (lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure levels) is improved by a Mediterranean diet. Moreover, the Cretan diet was tested in cardiac patients and showed a 70 % lower cardiac and all-causes mortality compared to the control diet. In conclusion, epidemiological studies and intervention trials suggest that the Cretan Mediterranean diet lowers the risk of coronary heart disease.