Cardio-metabolic risk factors among the inhabitants above 3500 M in Nepal

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the cardio-metabolic risk factors in an isolated rural village above 3,500 meters above the sea level in Nepal. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a rural village situated at 3,570 M of northern Nepal. The participants of > = 18 years were randomly selected and each participant went through a questionnaire interview, physical measurements for height, weight, blood pressure (BP), hemoglobin (Hb), oxygen saturation (SpO2) and biochemical measurement for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) > = 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > = 90 mm Hg and/or taking current antihypertensive medicine defined as HTN. Intermediate hyperglycemia when HbA1c value was > > 6 to < 6.5%, and diabetes when > > 6.5%. SpO2 < 90% was defined as hypoxaemia. Overweight defined as Body Mass Index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 Results: Out of 285 eligible participants, 67% participated in the survey. From a total of 189 participants of mean age 46 years, 104 (55.03%) were women. The prevalence of current smoking, harmful alcohol consumer and overweight was 21%, 32% and 29% respectively. Total prevalence of HTN was 22%. Glucose intolerance (HbA1c > 6) was associated with increasing age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.106, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.054; 1.160) and SPO2 (OR: 0.770, 95% CI: 0.630; 0.941). The prevalence of hypoxemia was 26.98% and of DM was 3.4%. Conclusion: Even though the prevalence of risk factors like smoking and alcohol is high, the study found that prevalence of HTN is low than the national data. This demands further research to explore the role of environmental and genetic factors on major cardio-metabolic risk factors.