Low levels of awareness of suboptimal health conditions in a high-risk working population: the "better health for better Hong Kong" health promotion campaign.
The incidences of cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity and diabetes are rising in many Asian populations. In April 2000, a 5-year territory-wide health promotion campaign supported by Li Ka Shing Foundation was launched in Hong Kong by the Health InfoWorld of Hospital Authority. From the general working class, 4,832 Chinese people were randomly recruited into this campaign. There were 2,370 men (49.0%) and 2,462 women (51.0%; median age = 43.0 years, range = 17-83 years). Of these, 37.5% were obese (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 or waist circumference > or = 80 cm in women and > or = 90 cm in men), 22.3% had hypertension, 11.6% were smokers, 31.0% had hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol > or = 5.2 mmol/l), 2.2% had diabetes, and 0.7% had a past history of cardiovascular disease. There were 1,338 participants (27.7%) who had 2 or more risk factors (more men than women: 36.9% vs. 18.9%, p < .001). Despite this high prevalence of multiple risk factors, most (83.1%) perceived their health status as satisfactory (more men than women: 85.6% vs. 80.7%, p < .001). In conclusion, the combination of high prevalence of multiple risk factors and low levels of awareness of their suboptimal health status herald a looming epidemic of life-threatening diseases in a group of middle-aged Hong Kong people. Massive public education is an important and essential, although it may not be self-sufficient, factor to reduce the socioeconomic impacts of this epidemic.
Ko
Gary T C
GT
Department of Medicine, Alice HML Nethersole Hospital, 11 Chuen On Road, Tai Po, NT, Hong Kong. gtc_ko@yahoo.com.hk
Chan
Juliana C N
JC
Chan
Amy W Y
AW
Wong
Patrick T S
PT
Hui
Stanley S C
SS
Tong
Spencer D Y
SD
Chow
Ferrie
F
Chan
Cecilia L W
CL
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001364:Awareness; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006304:Health Status; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires