ABSTRACT

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease has shown a marked increase over the last

decade, representing the leading cause of death in Nigeria. This study examined the

nutrition- related cardiovascular risk factors among adults in Igbo-13ze North LGA,

Enugu State. The study was a cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique

was used to select a total of 400 adults which included 195ma1e and 205 female adults.

Data on socio-demographic/economic characteristics, feeding pattern of the adults,

cardiovascular risk factors and health assessment, physical activity level, anthropometric

and blood pressure measurements of the adults were collected using structured and

validated questionnaire. Anthropornetric measurements of weight, height, hip and waist

circumferences were taken using standard procedures. The IBM SPSS version 20

computer programme was used to analyze the data. Significant relationship was judged at

p 0.05. Data obtained were described using frequency, percentage, mean and standard

deviation. Chi square was used to analyze the association between the nutrition related

cardiovascular risk factors and the anthropometric status of the adults. Result from this

study showed that more than half (58%) of the adults were females while (42%) were

males. Some (38.3%) of them were between the age bracket of 18-28 years of age. More

than half (70.8%) of the adults skipped their meals. However, 29.8% of the adults

indicated a family history of hypertension while (33.8%) suffers from it. Meanwhile,

44.3% of the adults were current smokers while (17.3%) smoke cigarette and snuff

tobacco. Majority (85%) of the adults had a low physical activity. 59.3% had normal

UMI status while (38.8) of the adults were at risk of cardiovascular diseases as indicated

by their waist hip ratio (WllR). More than half (54.5%) of the adults had systolic pre-

hypertension while (57.1%) had diastolic pre-hypertension. There was a significant

association (P<0.05) between some of the nutrition related cardiovascular risk factors

(consumption of fruits and vegetables, frequency of meal consumption, skipping meals,

reasons for skipping meals, systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension) and the

anthropometric status of the adults. Many (50.2%) of the adults who were obesed had a

low physical activity. Cardiovascular diseases can be best prevented mainly by avoiding

all the modifiable risk lactors (unhealthy diets and unhealthy lifestyles).