Association of tobacco and alcohol consumption with cardiovascular risk factors among elderly population in India

INTRODUCTION: The present study was conducted to assess the association of tobacco and alcohol consumption with cardiovascular risk factors among elderly population living at high altitude regions of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1003 elderly people living in district Nainital, Uttarakhand state, India. Thirty subjects were identified from 30 villages using population proportionate to size sampling methodology. The data on the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, mini nutritional assessment, Barthel activities of daily living scale, height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, triglycerides, and total cholesterol was collected. RESULTS: We found that smoking tobacco was associated with high cholesterol, lower body mass index, and low nutritional status (all, P < 0.05). Elderly subjects who consumed alcohol had 1.56 times higher risk of having high fasting blood glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of tobacco and alcohol increased the risk of cardiovascular diseases among elderly subjects. There is a need to improve these modifiable health behaviors through targeted educational and rehabilitation programs.