Behavioural risk factors for non communicable diseases among adults in Kerala, India
T N Sugathan1, C R Soman, K Sankaranarayanan
1Centre for Survey Research & Management Services, Kochi, India. drsugathan@vsnl.net
Insights
High rates of smoking, alcohol use, and inactivity are prevalent in Kerala, India. These behavioral risk factors, particularly among younger adults, necessitate urgent lifestyle changes and monitoring to prevent chronic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Chronic Disease Prevention
Background:
- Chronic diseases are leading causes of mortality in developing nations like India.
- Kerala, India, exhibits health indicators comparable to developed countries.
- Behavioral risk factors (BRF) such as smoking, poor diet, stress, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyles contribute to chronic diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence of various behavioral risk factors for chronic diseases in Kerala.
- To identify the biosocial correlates of these behavioral risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted on 6579 individuals aged 30-74 years.
- A stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design was used, covering Kerala State.
- Data on behavioral risk factors, chronic diseases, and family history were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods.
Main Results:
- Smoking (40%) and alcohol consumption (41%) were major risk factors in males, with median initiation age of 21.
- Physical inactivity affected 23% of males and 22% of females.
- Obesity was higher in females (33%) than males (17%), and low socioeconomic status predicted higher risk for smoking, alcohol use, stress, and unhealthy diet.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of behavioral risk factors in Kerala indicates an urgent need for lifestyle modification.
- Increased risk among younger generations for smoking and alcohol consumption requires immediate intervention.
- Long-term monitoring of risk factors and chronic diseases is crucial.
Background & Objective:
Cardiovascular and other chronic diseases are becoming the major causes of morbidity and mortality in most of the third world countries including India, especially in the southern Indian States, like Kerala, where most of the health indicators match closely with those of any developed country. Various behavioural risk factors (BRF) namely smoking, unhealthy diet, stress at home and work place, consumption of alcohol, sedentary life style, etc., are known to be risk factors for many such diseases. The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of various behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases, and to identify their biosocial correlates.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was done in which the data were collected from a sample of 6579 individuals of age 30 to 74 yr, randomly selected following a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design covering Kerala State. The important factors investigated include various behavioural risk factors, presenting chronic diseases and family histories among close relatives. The data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses.
Results:
The two major risk factors observed among males were smoking and alcohol consumption. About two fifths (40%) of them were current smokers as well as current users of alcohol (41%). The median age at initiation was 21 yr for both smoking habits and for alcohol consumption. Nearly a quarter of the target population were inactive (23% males and 22% females) based on work and leisure time activities. More than one-fifth of them (23%) reported stress. Obesity was found more among females (33%) than males (17%). Low socio-economic background was found to be a high predictor (high risk group) for habit of smoking, alcohol consumption, stress and unhealthy diet.
Interpretation & Conclusion:
Substantially high levels of the various behavioural risk factors among adults in Kerala suggests an urgent need for adopting healthy life style modifications among the population in general. The increased risk observed among the younger generation for behavioural risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption calls for urgent corrective steps and measures for long-term monitoring of all major risk factors as well as the major chronic disease conditions.
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