title: Correlates of cardiovascular disease risk scores in women in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Saudi Arabia has a high prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity. We measured cardiovascular (CVD) risk scores and determined the factors associated with them in women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted on 291 women aged ≥ 30 years. Information was collected on socio-demographics and physical health status. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken. Physical activity was measured using Kaiser's Physical Activity Survey and Godin's Leisure Time Exercise questionnaire. CVD risk scores were calculated using the non-laboratory-based Framingham Risk (FRS) prediction model for primary care. FRS scores ranged from 0.50 to 21.9. A total of 2.7% (n = 8) of women had a high FRS score (>20), 5.5% (n = 16) had intermediate scores (11-20), and 91.8% (n = 267) of women had low scores (<10) CVD risk scores. Multiple linear regression results indicated that a one-unit change in physical activity (household/caregiver index), strenuous exercise, waist circumference, number of children, television watching, and knee pain were significantly associated with -0.20 (p < .01), -0.12 (p = .03), 0.19 (p = .001), 0.29 (p < .01), 0.13 (p = .04), and 0.11 (p = .05) unit change in CVD risk scores, respectively. Household activities and strenuous exercise had a protective role in females in relation to CVD risk. Programs recommending physical activity at all levels should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: a Princess Nora Bent Abdullah Research Chair for Women's Health , Deanship of Research Chairs, King Saud University , Riyadh , Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: AlJohara M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alquaiz
authors.forename: Ambreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Riaz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Amna Rehana
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.forename: Shaffi Ahamed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shaik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: cardiovascular disease; obesity; physical activity