Modifiable risk factors associated with non-communicable diseases among adult outpatients in Manzini, Swaziland: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Four major non-communicable diseases (NCD), including T2DM, contributed to nearly three-quarters of all deaths worldwide in 2017. Dietary and lifestyle actors associated with NCDs are potentially modifiable. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the dietary and lifestyle factors associated with T2DM, pre-diabetes, and hypertension among adult outpatients in Manzini, Swaziland. METHODS: A random sample of 385 subjects aged 18 years and above was selected. The data regarding demographics, socio-economic status, lifestyle behaviour, diet, and physical activities were collected. Additionally, participants’ anthropometric measurements and vital signs were taken. A biochemical examination was done for fasting plasma glucose, and a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, where necessary. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for this data analysis, and the level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 385 (197 men and 188 women) subjects aged 18 years and older participated in the study. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 48.3%, while the prevalence of hypertension stage 1 and 2 were 29.4 and 19%, respectively. Smoking, SES and consumption of sweet drinks, salty processed foods, fruits, and vegetables were significantly associated with T2DM. However, in the multivariate analysis, only consumption of vegetables (p < 0.0001), fruits (p =0.014), sweet drinks (p = 0.042), and salty processed foods (p = 0.005) remained significantly associated with T2DM. Smoking (p = 0.002) and consumption of fruits (p < 0.0001), vegetables (p < 0.0001), and sweet drinks (p = 0.043) were independently associated with pre-diabetes, while the consumption of vegetables (p = 0.002) and salty processed foods (p = 0.003) were the factors independently associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The factors associated with T2DM, pre-diabetes, and hypertension are potentially modifiable. Therefore, interventions which target lifestyle changes at primary health care and population levels are warranted to address the growing burden of these chronic conditions in Swaziland.