Prevalence of atherosclerosis-related risk factors and diseases in the Philippines.
BACKGROUND
We conducted a survey in 2008 to measure the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases and risk factors in Philippine adults.


METHODS
Stratified multistage sampling was used to cover the entire Philippine population of adults aged 20 years or older. Using health questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and blood examinations, the prevalences of atherosclerosis-related risk factors and diseases were determined. Survey results were compared with those obtained in 2003.


RESULTS
Out of 7700 eligible subjects, 64% to 93.7% responded to different survey items. Age-adjusted hypertension prevalence was 24.6% at a single visit and 20.6% when corrected for true prevalence. The prevalence of diabetes was 3.9% on the basis of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 5.2% by FBG and history, and 6.0% when 2-hour post-load plasma glucose level was determined. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 72.0% and the prevalence of smoking was 31%. The prevalence of obesity was 4.9% by body mass index (BMI), and 10.2% and 65.6% by waist-hip ratio (WHR) in men and women, respectively. The prevalences of coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial diseases were 1.1%, 0.9%, and 1.0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalences of risk factors for atherosclerosis were higher in 2008 than in 2003, although the increase in diabetes was not significant and smoking decreased. These findings indicate a need for active collaborative intervention by all government agencies and medical societies in the Philippines.
Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines (UP) System, Manila, Philippines. rodysymd@gmail.com
Rody G
RG
Sy
Dante D
DD
Morales
Antonio L
AL
Dans
Elizabeth
E
Paz-Pacheco
Felix Eduardo R
FE
Punzalan
Nelson S
NS
Abelardo
Charmaine A
CA
Duante
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010679:Philippines / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult