TY - JOUR
T1 - Behavioural and nutritional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among the Ghanaian population- a cross-sectional study
AU - Agyekum, Francis
AU - Folson, Aba Ankomaba
AU - Abaidoo, Benjamin
AU - Appiah, Lambert Tetteh
AU - Adu-Boakye, Yaw
AU - Ayetey, Harold
AU - Owusu, Isaac Kofi
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, The Author(s).
PY - 2024/12
Y1 - 2024/12
N2 - Background: Lifestyle behavioural risk factors have been linked to increased cardiovascular disease. Recent data have shown increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in Ghana. This study aimed to describe the behavioural and nutritional risk factors for ASCVD among Ghanaians, and how these risk factors vary by ethnicity, demography and residence. Methods: We used data from the Ghana Heart Study, a community-based cross-sectional study that recruited participants from eight communities from four regions using a multi-stage sampling technique. Information about various lifestyle behaviours (LBs), including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and fruit and vegetable intake, was obtained using a questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistics 25. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to test associations between demographic characteristics and various LBs. Results: The participants' median (interquartile) age was 46.0 (27.0) years. Of the 1,106 participants (58% females, 80.4% urban dwellers), 8.6% reported using tobacco, 48.9% alcohol, 83.7% physically inactive, 81.4% and 84.9% inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. Age, sex, ethnicity, and religion were associated with tobacco use, whereas age, sex, educational level, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, and region of residence were associated with physical inactivity. Similarly, ethnicity, employment status, and residence region were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. Rural dwellers were more likely to be physically inactive and consume inadequate fruits and vegetables. Almost 92% had a combination of two or more LBs. The main predictors of two or more LBs for ASCVD were educational level, marital status, ethnicity, and employment status. Conclusion: Lifestyle risk factors for ASCVD were highly prevalent in Ghana, with significant age, sex, ethnic, and regional differences. These risky lifestyle behaviors tend to occur together and must be considered in tailoring public health education. Trial registration: The study was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR1800017374.
AB - Background: Lifestyle behavioural risk factors have been linked to increased cardiovascular disease. Recent data have shown increased atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) burden in Ghana. This study aimed to describe the behavioural and nutritional risk factors for ASCVD among Ghanaians, and how these risk factors vary by ethnicity, demography and residence. Methods: We used data from the Ghana Heart Study, a community-based cross-sectional study that recruited participants from eight communities from four regions using a multi-stage sampling technique. Information about various lifestyle behaviours (LBs), including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and fruit and vegetable intake, was obtained using a questionnaire. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS statistics 25. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to test associations between demographic characteristics and various LBs. Results: The participants' median (interquartile) age was 46.0 (27.0) years. Of the 1,106 participants (58% females, 80.4% urban dwellers), 8.6% reported using tobacco, 48.9% alcohol, 83.7% physically inactive, 81.4% and 84.9% inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, respectively. Age, sex, ethnicity, and religion were associated with tobacco use, whereas age, sex, educational level, marital status, ethnicity, employment status, and region of residence were associated with physical inactivity. Similarly, ethnicity, employment status, and residence region were associated with inadequate fruit and vegetable intake. Rural dwellers were more likely to be physically inactive and consume inadequate fruits and vegetables. Almost 92% had a combination of two or more LBs. The main predictors of two or more LBs for ASCVD were educational level, marital status, ethnicity, and employment status. Conclusion: Lifestyle risk factors for ASCVD were highly prevalent in Ghana, with significant age, sex, ethnic, and regional differences. These risky lifestyle behaviors tend to occur together and must be considered in tailoring public health education. Trial registration: The study was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR1800017374.
KW - Behavioural risk factors
KW - Cardiovascular diseases
KW - Lifestyle risk factors
KW - Nutritional risk factors
KW - Physical inactivity
KW - Smoking
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85182484423&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-024-17709-5
DO - 10.1186/s12889-024-17709-5
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85182484423
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 24
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 194
ER -