Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Aims: The burden of non-communicable diseases especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are rising rapidly in the developing countries particularly in Bangladesh. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to assess the impact of socioeconomic and risk factors affecting cardiovascular diseases among people in Bangladesh.

Study Design: We conducted this study with standard structured questionnaires following WHO STEPS Surveillance Manual.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of cardiology, ward number 32, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, from July  to December 2015.

Methodology: We enrolled 650 patients randomly (469 men, 181 women; age range 11 to 70 years) with cardiac complications. Data were collected via interview of the patients/guardians and medical records using WHO-NCD STEP wise approach questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was applied to analyze the data.

Results: In this study we found that the prevalence of CVDs was more among rural people (61.5%) than urban residence (38.5%). Majority of participants (74.6%) came from lower socio-economic class, patients of age 50-60 years (30%) had greater risk than others, male (72.1%) had greater risk of suffering from CVDs than female (27.9%), families with low income (10000-20000 taka) 44.3%, family members (4-5) 46.8%, high cholesterol diet 75.2%, hypertension 79.1%, patients with no physical exercise 45.7% were commonly suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion: Our present study showed that CVDs risk factors such as habit of salt intake during meals in the table, high cholesterol diet, smoking, hypertension, heredity, obesity, diabetes & no physical exercise was persistent among the study populations. Therefore social awareness should be developed among people of Bangladesh especially in rural community through educational programs & by mass media.