title: Prevalence of cardiovascular morbidities in Myanmar.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are now in a rising trend in South East Asia including Myanmar due to increase in major cardiovascular risk factors in both urban and rural areas, such as smoking, obesity and diabetes mellitus. It is necessary to determine CVD morbidities in Myanmar for planning of prevention and control activities for CVDs. The cross-sectional household survey was conducted in 2012 with 600 people aged 40 years and above in four townships (Kyauk-Tan, Mawlamyaing, Pathein and Pyay) and used face-to-face interview with standard questionnaire [Rose Angina Questionnaire and Questionnaire by European Cardiovascular Indicators Surveillance Set (EUROCISS) Research Group] to determine the level of reported CVD morbidities in adult population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age of the study population ranged from 40 to 99 years with the mean age of 56 years. Seventy-one percent of the study population was women. Nine percent of the study population have suffered from angina according to Rose Angina Questionnaire. Prevalence of possible heart attack, stroke and heart failure was 7.5, 1.5 and 2.8%. Prevalence of hypertension was 51%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CVD morbidities are high. There is a need for strengthening prevention and control activities of CVDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Sports, No.5, Ziwaka Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, 11191, Myanmar. zawkzaw@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ko Ko
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Zaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Services, Yangon General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Nwe
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resources for Health, University of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports, Yangon, Myanmar.
authors.forename: Su Su
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hlaing
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D002052:Myanmar / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: CVD; Cardiovascular diseases; Morbidities; Myanmar; Prevalence