TITLE:
Educational Status and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Awka, Southeast Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Ernest Ndukaife Anyabolu, Chinyelu Uchenna Ufoaroh, Innocent Chukwuemeka Okoye, Desmond Onyebuchukwu Ekeh, Nkechinyere Anulika Chukwumobi, Arthur Ebelenna Anyabolu, Innocent Ijezie Chukwuonye
KEYWORDS:
Educational Status, Smoking, Alcohol, Tobacco Snuff, Thickened Arterial Wall, Meat Consumption, Diabetes Mellitus, Lengthy Working Hours, Obesity, Hypertension, Short Night Sleep
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.8 No.11,
November
10,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives: All over the world, cardiovascular risks constitute a heavy healthcare burden, affecting people with different levels of education, across economies in both the developed and the developing ones. Differences in educational levels in cardiovascular risks have not been completely defined. This study was set out to evaluate the influence of levels of education on the risks of cardiovascular disease in an urban community in Awka, southeast Nigeria. Methodology: In this cross sectional study of 294 subjects conducted in Awka in 2017, biodata, anthropometric and demographic data were obtained. A questionnaire was used to extract information on smoking, alcohol use, tobacco snuff use, diabetes mellitus status, time spent at work > 10 hours daily and night sleep duration Results: The prevalence of smoking was 5.4%, tobacco snuff use 5.4%, alcohol 42.2%, thickened arterial wall 27.2%, meat protein 91.8%, diabetes mellitus 9.5%, time spent at work > 10 hours daily 29.3%, obesity 33.3%, hypertension 58.5%, night sleep 10 hours daily (p Conclusion: There was variability in the prevalence of cardiovascular risks at different levels of education. The prevalence of smoking and night sleep duration 10 hours daily, hypertension and obesity increased in prevalence with increasing levels of education but declined with tertiary education.