Abstract:
This study assessed the prevalence of risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases among adults working in Federal Government Establishments in Umuahia Abia state, Nigeria. Two hundred adults randomly selected in the establishments participated in the study. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, food frequency and some lifestyle practices. The anthropometric measurements of the respondents were taken using standard methods and their body mass index (BMI) calculated. The BMI of the respondents were grouped according to World Health Organisation (WHO) 2000 BMI classification. The postprandial plasma glucose level and the blood pressure of the respondents were measured using standard methods and compared with normal values. Data collected were analysed using statistical package for social sciences.Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, Chi-square analysis and Analysis of variance were used. The results obtained showed that 1.5% of the respondents were underweight, 44.5% of the subjects were normal while 35.5% and 18.5% were overweight and obese respectively. Thirteen percent of female respondents were significantly more obese (P<0.05) than their male counterparts. Adult onset diabetes mellitus was observed among 5% of the respondents. The female respondents had similar blood glucose values like the male respondents. More than half (78.5%) of the respondents had normal systolic blood pressure values while 4.5% had stage 1 systolic hypertension. Eighty three percent of the respondents had normal diastolic blood pressure values while 1.5 % of the female respondents had stage 2 diastolic hypertension. The blood pressure values (both systolic and diastolic) of the male and female respondents were not statistically different at P>0.05. The results showed that respondents’ educational status had no significant effect on their BMI, blood sugar and blood pressure at P>0.05 . Similarly, there was no significant effect of respondents’ income level on their BMI, blood sugar and blood pressure at P>0.05 . The food consumption pattern of the respondents showed that starchy foods formed the main bulk of their diet. In the meat/fish group, fish was consumed daily by 58.5% of the respondents. Daily consumption of palm oil and vegetables among respondents were 80.5% and 42.5% respectively. Only 36.5% of the respondents had regular medical examination. The results show that the prevalence of obesity, hypertension and diabetes among the respondents will increase if major lifestyles changes are not made.
