title: Awareness of diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Policy interventions for cardiovascular diseases require individual awareness of ailments. Such awareness is also key to individuals making changes to their lifestyle and dietary habits. The present study investigated the association of sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle factors with the awareness and prevalence of three ailments: diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance-1. Logistic regressions were estimated and odds ratios of exposure variables calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetes awareness was associated with work hours, age, family history of illnesses, and ethnicity. Individuals with diminished hypertension awareness included those who were younger, without family history of illnesses, not obese, working more hours, and not adhering to a healthy diet. Low awareness of hypercholesterolemia was associated with younger age, lower education level, living in rural areas, female gender, no family history of illnesses, non-obesity, and minority ethnic background. Prevalence generally had the same pattern of association with the exposure variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various sociodemographic and health and lifestyle characteristics were associated with diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia awareness in Malaysia, albeit with varying outcomes. Therefore, programs focusing on lifestyle improvements should be targeted at high-risk subgroups, such as individuals working longer hours and young adults, who are less likely to be aware of their health risk factors.
authors: Department of Agricultural Economics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Steven T
authors: ST
authors: Yen
authors: School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
authors: Andrew K G
authors: AKG
authors: Tan
authors: Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
authors: Feisul I
authors: FI
authors: Mustapha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Malaysia; awareness; diabetes; hypercholesterolemia; hypertension; 意识; 糖尿病; 马来西亚; 高胆固醇血症; 高血压