Unveiling Cardiovascular Risk Among Older Adults in Eastern India: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cardiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) presents a significant public health burden in low-resource settings like India, contributing to premature mortality.
• Understanding CVD risk factors in specific populations is crucial for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among community-dwelling older adults in Eastern India.
• To identify factors associated with moderate-to-high CVD risk in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 477 adults aged 40-74 years in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India.
• Utilized the World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) South Asian Region (SAR) non-laboratory risk chart.
• Employed multinomial logistic regression to determine predictors of CVD risk.

Main Results:

• Approximately 24.1% of participants had a moderate-to-high 10-year CVD risk (≥10%).
• Key predictors for moderate-to-high risk included older age, male gender, lower income, family history of CVD, central obesity, and tobacco use.
• Regular physical activity (≥30 minutes/day) demonstrated a protective effect against CVD risk.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of older adults in Eastern India are at moderate-to-high risk for CVD.
• Central obesity and tobacco use are critical modifiable risk factors requiring intervention.
• Promoting regular physical activity is essential for mitigating CVD risk in this demographic.