Prevalence of Stroke Risk Factors in an Urban Community at Parakou (Northern Benin) in 2016

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa faces a high burden of stroke due to growing of their risk factors. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of stroke risk factors and to identify associated factors in the district of Titirou in Parakou (northern Benin), in 2016.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study. It included adults living in Titirou and having given their consent. A door-to-door survey was performed from 15 march to 15 July 2016 in each neighbourhood or village until the expected number reached. We recorded the socio-demographic data, medical histories, anthropometric and blood pressure measures using WHO steps approach. Prevalences of stroke risk factors were calculated and a logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with metabolic risk factors.Results: A total of 4671 participants was included with a mean age of 27.7±12.9 years and a sex ratio of 0.97. Prevalences of behavioural risk factors were estimated at: 17.2% of alcohol consumption, 21.5% of low fruits and vegetables consumption, 51.1% of low physical activity practice, and 3.5% of smoking. Metabolic risk factors prevalence’s amounted to: 8.7% of obesity, 7.1% of high blood pressure, 1.7% of self-reported diabetes and 2.2% of dyslipidaemia. Age (p<0.001), sex (p<0.001), marital status (p<0.001) and professional occupation (p=0.010) were associated with obesity. Age was also associated with high blood pressure (p<0.001) and diabetes (p<0.001). Dyslipidaemia varied according to smoking (p=0.033) and low physical activity practice (p=0.003). Conclusion: The study showed high prevalences of low physical activity practice and obesity. Targeted local interventions focused on these factors should be conducted for primary prevention of stroke in this community, or even beyond in Benin.