Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Jafar, TH
Published in: International journal of cardiology
January 2006

Migrant South Asian population in the West, particularly women, is more predisposed to central obesity and metabolic syndromes than native Caucasians. However, the burden of coexistence of clinical risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated gender disparities in native population of South Asia are not known. We analyzed the National Health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP) (1990-1994) data to study the same in the population of Pakistan.Data from 9442 individuals age 15 years or over from the National Health Survey of Pakistan (NHSP) (1990-1994) was analyzed. The primary outcome was defined as the coexistence of at least two of the following five clinical risk factors for CVD. Hypertension (systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure > or = 90 mm Hg, or current therapy with antihypertensive medications); diabetes (non-fasting blood glucose > or = 140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l), or known history of diabetes); proteinuria (dipstick urine protein > 1+); hyperlipidemia (random blood cholesterol > or = 200 mg/dl (5.17 mmol/l)), and central obesity (waist circumference of > or = 80 cm in women and > or = 90 cm in men.The overall prevalence (95% confidence intervals) of the coexistence of risk factors for CVD was 17.2% (16.4-18.0%): 13.0% (12.1-14.1%) in men and 20.9% (19.8-22.0%) in women (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that men had at significantly lower odds of coexistence of risk factors than women with OR, 95% CI of 0.53, 0.47-0.61, and this difference increased in magnitude with age (interaction p < 0.001). In addition to Muhajir, Sindhi and Pashtun vs Punjabi ethnicity, factors independently associated with primary outcome were age (OR, 95% CI) (1.06, 1.05-1.06, for each one year increase), urban dwelling vs rural dwelling (1.45, 1.24-1.70), high (1.97, 1.61-2.45) and mid (1.44, 1.23-1.70) vs low socioeconomic status, body mass index (1.17, 1.15-1.18, for each one kg/m(2) increase), and high consumption of meat (1.77, 1.52-2.06) and ghee (1.26, 1.00-1.54).Potentially modifiable factors including obesity and saturated fat intake are associated with increased prevalence of CVD risk factors. The high burden of multiple CVD risk factors in women compared to men highlight the need for targeting this vulnerable segment of population in CVD prevention programs in Pakistan, and, possibly neighbouring countries.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

International journal of cardiology

DOI

EISSN

1874-1754

ISSN

0167-5273

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

106

Issue

3

Start / End Page

348 / 354

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Pakistan
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Female
  • Demography
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Jafar, T. H. (2006). Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men. International Journal of Cardiology, 106(3), 348–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.02.013
Jafar, Tazeen H. “Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men.International Journal of Cardiology 106, no. 3 (January 2006): 348–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.02.013.
Jafar TH. Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men. International journal of cardiology. 2006 Jan;106(3):348–54.
Jafar, Tazeen H. “Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men.International Journal of Cardiology, vol. 106, no. 3, Jan. 2006, pp. 348–54. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2005.02.013.
Jafar TH. Women in Pakistan have a greater burden of clinical cardiovascular risk factors than men. International journal of cardiology. 2006 Jan;106(3):348–354.
Journal cover image

Published In

International journal of cardiology

DOI

EISSN

1874-1754

ISSN

0167-5273

Publication Date

January 2006

Volume

106

Issue

3

Start / End Page

348 / 354

Related Subject Headings

  • Sex Factors
  • Risk Factors
  • Pakistan
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Surveys
  • Female
  • Demography
  • Cross-Sectional Studies