Prevalence and associated factors of ideal cardiovascular health: A cross-sectional national population-based study of adults in the Marshall Islands

• Main Author: Pengpid S.
• Other Authors: Mahidol University
• Format: Article
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Medicine
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/86537

INTRODUCTION This study aimed to determine the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) among adults in Marshall Islands. METHODS This population-based cross-sectional study included 2688 people aged ≥18 years with complete CVH measurements in the Marshall Islands in 2017–2018. Ideal CVH measures included non-smoking, healthy diet, physical activity, body mass index (<25 kg/m2), blood pressure <120/<80 mmHg, total cholesterol <200 mg/dL, and fasting blood glucose <100 mg/dL). Sociodemographic covariates included age, sex, household income, education level, ethnicity, and work status. Logistic regressions were used to estimate associations between sociodemographic factors and meeting 5–7 CVH metrics. RESULTS Almost one in four (24.8%) of respondents had poor CVH (0–2 ideal metrics), 55.9% intermediate CVH (3–4 ideal metrics), and 19.4% ideal CVH (5–7 ideal metrics), and only 0.2% had ideal CVH (all 7 metrics). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, older age (30–49 years and ≥50 years) (adjusted odds ratio, AOR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.32–0.51, and AOR=0.20; 95% CI: 0.15–0.29) and male sex (AOR=0.72; 95% CI: 0.58–0.89) were negatively associated with meeting 5–7 ideal CVH metrics. In addition, in unadjusted analysis, more than high school education level, not knowing their household income, unemployed, and home maker, student, retired or non-paid work status, were positively associated with meeting 5–7 ideal CVH metrics. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of meeting 5–7 ideal CVH metrics was low among adults in the Marshall Islands. Primary and secondary prevention programs should be implemented to increase CVH in the Marshall Islands. Several factors associated with ideal CVH were identified that can be targeted in public health interventions.