Nandita Bhan1, Christopher Millett2,3, S V Subramanian4, Amit Dias5, Dewan Alam6, Joseph Williams7, Preet K Dhillon8. 1. Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India. nab289@mail.harvard.edu. 2. Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India. 3. School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK. 4. Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, USA. 5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Goa Medical College and Sangath, Goa, India. 6. School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, York University, Toronto, Canada. 7. Voluntary Health Services, Chennai, India. 8. Centre for Control of Chronic Conditions, Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to examine relationships between markers of socioeconomic status and chronic disease risks in rural South Asia to understand the etiology of chronic diseases in the region and identify high-risk populations. METHODS: We examined data from 2271 adults in Chennai, Goa and Matlab sites of the Chronic Disease Risk Factor study in South Asia. We report age-sex adjusted odds ratios for risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, fruit-vegetable use and physical activity) and common chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, overweight, depression, impaired lung and vision) by education, occupation and wealth. RESULTS: Respondents with greater wealth and in non-manual professions were more likely to be overweight [OR = 2.48 (95% CI 1.8,3.38)] and have diabetes [OR = 1.88 (95% CI 1.02,3.5)]. Wealth and education were associated with higher fruit and vegetable [OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.48,2.4)] consumption but lower physical activity [OR = 0.52 (95% CI 0.39,0.69)]. Non-manual workers reported lower tobacco and alcohol use, while wealthier respondents reported better vision and lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing monitoring of inequalities in chronic disease risks is needed for planning and evaluating interventions to address the growing burden of chronic conditions.
OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to examine relationships between markers of socioeconomic status and chronic disease risks in rural South Asia to understand the etiology of chronic diseases in the region and identify high-risk populations. METHODS: We examined data from 2271 adults in Chennai, Goa and Matlab sites of the Chronic Disease Risk Factor study in South Asia. We report age-sex adjusted odds ratios for risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, fruit-vegetable use and physical activity) and common chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, overweight, depression, impaired lung and vision) by education, occupation and wealth. RESULTS: Respondents with greater wealth and in non-manual professions were more likely to be overweight [OR = 2.48 (95% CI 1.8,3.38)] and have diabetes [OR = 1.88 (95% CI 1.02,3.5)]. Wealth and education were associated with higher fruit and vegetable [OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.48,2.4)] consumption but lower physical activity [OR = 0.52 (95% CI 0.39,0.69)]. Non-manual workers reported lower tobacco and alcohol use, while wealthier respondents reported better vision and lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Ongoing monitoring of inequalities in chronic disease risks is needed for planning and evaluating interventions to address the growing burden of chronic conditions.
Entities:
Keywords:
Behavioral risk factors; Chronic diseases; Socioeconomic inequalities; Socioeconomic status; South Asia
Authors: Ailsa J McKay; Anthony A Laverty; Krithiga Shridhar; Dewan Alam; Amit Dias; Joseph Williams; Christopher Millett; Shah Ebrahim; Preet K Dhillon Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-10-24 Impact factor: 3.295