Identifying Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors in Newly Employed and Experienced Professionals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant global health burden, accounting for a majority of global deaths and millions of premature deaths each year. In Bangladesh, NCDs contribute to a substantial proportion of annual mortality, with a concerning increase observed in recent decades. This study aimed to identify NCD risk factors among newly employed and experienced Bangladeshi professionals.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of Cardiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from October 2021 to September 2022. A total of 102 participants, including both newly employed and experienced professionals, were included using purposive non-probability sampling. Data collection involved a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire, as well as measurements of height, weight, and blood pressure.

Result: The study involved a majority of female participants (65.7%), who were unmarried (68.6%) and had completed secondary school (71.6%). The average age was 25.67 years, with an average monthly income of $479.83. Approximately 20% reported smoking, while 13.7% reported alcohol consumption. Low physical activity was reported by 40.2%, and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption by 31.4%. The prevalence of chronic diseases was found to be 12.7% for hypertension, 5.5% for diabetes, and 2.7% for cardiovascular diseases. These findings provide valuable information on participant characteristics, risk factors, and chronic disease prevalence, relevant to researchers and policymakers working on public health interventions.

Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the distribution of NCD risk factors among newly employed individuals and experienced professionals in Bangladesh. The findings suggest that NCD risk factors are similar between these two groups, except for hypertension, which is more prevalent among experienced professionals. These findings have important implications for public health interventions aimed at reducing the burden of NCDs in Bangladesh.