COMPARISON OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS BETWEEN HEALTH AND NON HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the percentage prevalence of cardiovascular risk factorsamong males of Karachi aged above 40 years and to compare them betweenhealth and non-health professionals.

Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The participants weremales aged above 40 years and were divided in two equal groups, onecomprising of health professionals and the other of non-health professionals.Data was collected by a questionnaire which contained variables includinghypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, excessive alcoholconsumption, type A personality, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history ofCVD and past history of CVD. Frequencies were calculated for each variable andtheir association with the profession was determined by Chi-Sq test and p value.

Results: Among male population of Karachi above 40 years of age, prevalence ofhypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, alcoholism, Type Apersonality, obesity, physical inactivity, family history of CVD and past history ofCVD were found to be 33.3%, 21%, 21.4%, 15.7%, 2.4%, 35.7% and 21.4%,46.7%, 84.8% and 12.4% respectively. Except for physical inactivity, all the riskfactors were found to be more common among non-health than healthprofessionals.

Conclusion: CVD risk factors are present but not very commonly among males ofKarachi aged above 40 years. Non-health professionals have a higher prevalenceof CVD risk factors. Physical inactivity was more common in health than nonhealthprofessionals.