Cardiovascular risk factors: distribution and prevalence in a rural population of Bangladesh

Background Little is known about the cardiovascular risk factors in the Ban gladeshi population. We examined 'classic' risk factors, including central obesity, in a rural population. Methods Non-biochemical variables were examined in 238 men and 272 women ag ed 18 years or more (mean +/- standard deviation 38.1 +/- 10.7 years in men and 36.0 +/- 9.8 in women). Fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol co ncentrations were determined in a sub-sample of 106 men and 135 women. Results Men and women had a similar body mass index (20.4 +/- 3.1 vs 20.8 /- 3.4 kg/m(2)), waist circumference (72.8 +/- 7.6 vs 71.4 +/- 8.7 cm), sys tolic blood pressure (118.4 +/- 13.7 vs 119.5 +/- 17.7 mmHg), diastolic blo od pressure (75.9 +/- 9.9 vs 74.6 +/- 11.5 mmHg), total cholesterol (155.7 +/- 36.0 vs 162.0 +/- 35.2mg/dl) and blood glucose level (89.0 +/- 14.9 vs 86.2 +/- 9.6 mg/dl. After categorization of these variables, the prevalence of thinness (body mass index < 18.5; 30.0 vs 30.3%), obesity (body mass in dex <greater than or equal to> 30; 0.8 vs 1.1%), hypertension (systolic blo od pressure greater than or equal to 140 and/or diastolic blood pressure gr eater than or equal to 90 or medication; 9.8 vs 15.6%), hypercholesterolemi a (total cholesterol greater than or equal to 240; 2.8 vs 3.0%) and diabete s mellitus (blood glucose greater than or equal to 126; 2.9 vs 0.7%) remain ed similar between the sexes. However, central obesity (waist circumference greater than or equal to 94 cm in men and greater than or equal to 80 cm i n women) was less frequent (2.9 vs 16.8%; P= 0.001) in men. Overall, tobacc o consumption (57.1 vs 23.2%; P= 0.001) and smoking (50.3% vs 2.9%; P= 0.00 1) were more frequent in men, but chewing tobacco consumption was similar ( 16.3 vs 21.4%; P= 0.095). Conclusions Our sample size is small, and larger studies are necessary for a more accurate description of the risk factors.