Sociodemographic correlates of abnormal blood profile in tribal districts of Eastern India

OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlates of sociodemographic profile with abnormal blood profile in tribal districts of Odisha. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. The abnormal blood profile cut-offs were: Random blood sugar >200 mg/dl, Triglycerides >150 mg/dl, and Cholesterol >200 mg/dl. SETTING: The study was carried out in Daringbadi and Tangi (Choudwar) blocks from Kandhamal and Cuttack district, respectively, in the eastern state of Odisha in India. PARTICIPANTS: Data of 2,000 households selected consecutively from 30 villages was collected for persons aged more than 6 years from either block on sociodemographic aspects and food consumption by households. Anthropometric measurements were taken for persons aged 11 years and above. Approximately 10%, that is, 400 households were chosen for blood sample collection for estimation of random blood sugar (RBS) and lipid profile [Serum Triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol] in persons aged 11 years and above. RESULTS: The blood reports revealed that out of the total samples collected, 9.2% had elevated RBS, 20.8% had elevated TG, and 8.8% had elevated cholesterol levels overall. The prevalence of elevated RBS, TG, and Cholesterol was 2.3%, 15%, and 5.3%, respectively, in Daringbadi, while in Tangi-Choudwar the elevated markers were 17%, 27.2%, and 12.8% for RBS, TG, and Cholesterol, respectively. Our study found that compared to the Daringbadi block, a significantly higher (P < 0.05) proportion of people from the Tangi-Choudwar block suffered from hyperglycemia (OR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.20), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.64), and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.59). Hence, it was observed that the population of Daringbadi was 89%, 53%, and 62% less likely to have elevated random blood sugar level, serum triglycerides, and serum cholesterol, respectively, than the population of Tangi-Choudwar block. Overall, the population of Tangi-Choudwar was found to be more predisposed to an abnormal blood profile which might be indicate a less healthy lifestyle and diet in this block as compared to Daringbadi block. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the sociodemographic factors influencing lifestyle and diet patterns of a population have an impact on the health of a population. We found that the tribal block which was more developed and had more intake of junk food and sedentary lifestyle similar to urban areas also had a greater proportion of population with an abnormal blood profile as compared to the less-developed tribal block. Hence, health promotion for a healthy lifestyle and diet is needed as a part of national health policy to implement primordial prevention and to prevent the emergence of risk factors from an early age. The frontline health workers and family physicians can play an important role in promoting a healthy lifestyle.