National survey of risk factors for non-communicable disease in Vietnam: prevalence estimates and an assessment of their validity.
To estimate the prevalence of non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors at a provincial level in Vietnam, and to assess whether the summary estimates allow reliable inferences to be drawn regarding regional differences in risk factors and associations between them.



Participants (n = 14706, 53.5 % females) aged 25-64 years were selected by multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from eight provinces each representing one of the eight geographical regions of Vietnam. Measurements were made using the World Health Organization STEPS protocols. Data were analysed using complex survey methods.



Differences by sex in mean years of schooling (males 8.26 ± 0.20, females 7.00 ± 0.18), proportions of current smokers (males 57.70 %, females 1.73 %), and binge-drinkers (males 25.11 %, females 0.63 %), and regional differences in diet, reflected the geographical and socio-cultural characteristics of the country. Provinces with a higher proportion of urban population had greater mean levels of BMI (r = 0.82), and lesser proportions of active people (r = -0.89). The associations between the summary estimates were generally plausible (e.g. physical activity and BMI, r = -0.80) but overstated, and with some anomalous findings due to characterisation of smoking and hypertension by STEPS protocols.



This report provides an extensive description of the sex-specific and regional distribution of NCD risk factors in Vietnam and an account of some health-related consequences of industrialisation in its early stages. The STEPS protocols can be utilized to provide aggregate data for valid between-population comparisons, but with important caveats identified.
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.|Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Can Tho, Vietnam.
Tan Van
TV
Bui
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia. Leigh.Blizzard@utas.edu.au.
Christopher Leigh
CL
Blizzard
Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Khue Ngoc
KN
Luong
Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Ngoc Le Van
Nle V
Truong
Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Bao Quoc
BQ
Tran
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Petr
P
Otahal
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Seana
S
Gall
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Mark R
MR
Nelson
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Thuy Bich
TB
Au
Medical Services Administration, Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
Son Thai
ST
Ha
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Hai Ngoc
HN
Phung
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
Mai Hoang
MH
Tran
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.|Department of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Michele
M
Callisaya
Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.|Department of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
Velandai
V
Srikanth
D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
Ecological inference; Non-communicable disease; Prevalence; Risk factors