A Cross-sectional Assessment of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in a Sub-Himalayan Region of West Bengal, India Using who Steps Approach.
BACKGROUND
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability globally. The basic element of NCD prevention is the identification of the common risk factors and their prevention and control.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, in Siliguri city of West Bengal, India using WHO Steps approach.


METHODS
Between April 2012 to July 2012, 779 adults of 18-64 years from Siliguri city were chosen by 30-cluster sampling. They were interviewed and measurements and laboratory tests were done.


RESULTS
The prevalence of behavioural risk factors like tobacco use, alcohol, unhealthy diet was 57.5%, 12.5%, 50.87% and 60.4%, respectively while that of biological risk factors like overweight, abdominal obesity and hypertension was 29.8%, 20.2% and 17.8%, respectively. The prevalence of biochemical risk categories like diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL-C was 9.1%, 17.8%, 16.6% and 67.5%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases was found in Siliguri city which emphasizes the need of interventions to reduce these risk factors.
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine.
Sharmistha
S
Bhattacherjee
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal.
Saikat
S
Datta
Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine.
Jayanta Kumar
JK
Roy
Professor, Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Kishanganj, Bihar.
Manasi
M
Chakraborty
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000073296:Noncommunicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult