Comparison of prevalence of life style risk factors and 10 year risk of CVD event among rural and tribal population of Kollegal Taluk, Chamrajanagar district, South India.

CONTEXT

Cardiovascular diseases have been recognized as leading cause of death. Three-fourths of CVD deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Surveillance of CVD risk factors is a key strategy for effective CVD prevention.

AIMS

To identify the extent of CVD risk factors and 10 year risk of developing Cardiovascular Disease events among rural and tribal population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This community based cross sectional study was conducted on a total of 482 rural and 415 tribal subjects aged above 30 years from Kollegal taluk, Chamrajanagar, Karnataka, India. Tobacco and alcohol consumption, BMI, blood pressure and capillary blood glucose were estimated. WHO/ISH risk prediction chart was used to predict 10 year risk of MI/stroke.

RESULTS

Tobacco consumption was 15.4% (rural) and 90.8% (tribal). Alcohol consumption was 10.8% (rural) and 21.9% (tribal), Obesity was 40.2% (rural) and 14.0% (tribal). Prevalence of Hypertension was 49.8% (rural) and 32.2% (Tribal) and diabetes 8.3% (rural) and 2.9% (tribal). Nearly one fourth of the population are at moderate risk (10-30%) and one tenth are at high risk (30%) of MI/Stroke within 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

High prevalence of tobacco consumption among tribal and high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among rural predisposes 10% of population to moderate to high risk of stroke/MI within 10 years.