Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Silent Epidemic among Urban Adult Male Socialites

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major contributor to mortality worldwide and a significant determinant of life expectancy which is estimated at 59 years in Nigerian males and 63 years in females. It is, therefore, necessary to identify cardiovascular risk factors among various adult populations. Effective surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors is advocated to reduce the associated morbidities and mortalities. This study, therefore, set out to determine the prevalence and pattern of cardiovascular risk factors among adult male members of an elite social club in an urban metropolitan city.
Methods: An opportunistic cross-sectional study that recruited 97 adult male members of an elite social club in Lagos, Nigeria during the 2019 International Society of Hypertension May Measurement month. Their demographic and anthropometric parameters were obtained. Blood pressures were measured and blood samples were taken for fasting blood sugar and fasting lipid profile while urine samples were taken for micro-albuminuria assay. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 software.
Results: The mean age of the study population was 56.6 + 12.6 years (range 35-83 years). The overall prevalence of hypertension was 61.7%. Half of the hypertensive population was previously diagnosed hypertensive. Obesity and dyslipidemia were seen in 65.0% and 80.0% respectively while the prevalence of abnormal blood sugar and micro-albuminuria was 16.0% and 15.0% respectively.
Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk factors are common among affluent male socialites. Targeted screening, health education, aggressive treatment, and lifestyle changes will go a long way in reducing the burden of these cardiovascular disease risk factors.