A Comparison of the Socio-Behavioral-Metabolic Risk Profiles and Associated Factors for Chronic Diseases of Lifestyle in Urban and Rural Communities in Central South Africa

Abstract

Background: The global escalating prevalence of lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases places a significant burden on health systems. Chronic diseases of lifestyle (CDL) are a group of diseases that share similar modifiable risk factors that can result in long-term disease processes. Considering the socio-behavioral-metabolic risk profiles of communities and risk factors predictive of the presence of CDL can assist in the development of focused and effective community-based prevention, intervention, and treatment programs for CDL. Aim: To determine the socio-behavioral-metabolic risk profiles and identify associated factors for the following CDL: obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in rural and urban communities in central South Africa. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included adults aged 25–65 years in the rural Southern Free State and urban Mangaung. Social determinants, behavioral and metabolic risk factors, and inflammatory biomarkers for CDL were determined. Results: In total, 575 rural (mean age: 42 years; 71% female) and 429 urban (mean age: 44 years; 76% female) participants were included in the study. More than 20% of participants in both communities reported being previously diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases; with reported hypertension and diabetes mellitus more prevalent among rural participants. Insufficient intake of fruit and vegetables, alcohol use, and high blood pressure were among the top five risk factors in both communities. Physical inactivity ranked among the top two risk factors in the urban community; while alcohol and tobacco use was significantly higher in the rural community. Fibrinogen was the most prevalent inflammatory marker in both communities (32.9 rural vs. 48.3% urban). High sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), only available for rural participants, was high with increased levels in more than 80% of participants. In both communities, being female, having high blood pressure and increased fibrinogen levels were associated with obesity. Conclusion: This study illustrated the high prevalence of socio-behavioral-metabolic risk factors for CDL, and identified similarities and distinct differences in the risk profiles of rural and urban communities. Considering the CDL risk profiles of communities can assist in prioritizing health needs and contribute to the development of tailor-made community-based primary health care prevention, intervention, and health promotion programs.

Maternal Obesity and Its Adverse Effect on Maternal and Fetal Health

“…Regarding fetal complications, our study found statistically significant relation between obesity and incidence of fetal complications(p value =0.012).one of these fetal complications were macrosomia and high birth weight >3500gm. 12% of our cases delivered macrosomic infants .our study agreed with a previous study made by Dai et al, (2018) which found that pre-pregnancy obesity should be considered as an important risk factor for macrosomia [25]. 9% of our cases delivered infant with congenital anomalies.…”

Demography and COVID-19 Symptoms of South African Oral Health Workers in an Academic Hospital

“…The high number of staff who reported no existing comorbidities (69%) is similar to a study comparing HCWs and non-HCWs in terms of severity of disease which reported HCWs to be more healthy and less likely to be hospitalised and had less severe symptoms 46,47 . The proportion of staff (31.2%) reporting co-morbidities correlates with reported comorbidities among the general South African population, namely diabetes and or high blood pressure 48,49 .…”

Risk factors and chronic diseases (type 2 diabetes and arterial hypertension) in a population of Nador in North-East Morocco

“…These NCDs, commonly referred to as chronic diseases (CDs), include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes, and represent a growing global burden, accounting for seven out of ten deaths worldwide [2]. Current projections will rank NCDs among the top 10 causes of death worldwide by 2040, and the leading cause of death in the African region by 2030 [3] of which the large *Corresponding author: salihamharchi@gmail.com proportion of these deaths is related to cardiovascular diseases followed by cancerous and metabolic diseases [4]. All share key behavioral risk factors that can be modified, including physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and high fat intake [5].…”

“…All share key behavioral risk factors that can be modified, including physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and high fat intake [5]. These risk factors (RF) lead to physiological and metabolic changes such as obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and are at the origin of certain chronic pathologies mainly cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer and diabetes mellitus [3]. A recent study showed that low-and middle-income countries had the highest risk of dying from CD, particularly in Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe [6].…”