Community-based assessment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in a tribal population of Tharus in Bihar, India

BACKGROUND: The problems of cardiovascular diseases are on the rise and the tribal population are also not an exception to it. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and to find association of hypertension and diabetes with various risk factors among the Tharu tribe of Bihar, India. METHODOLOGY: The present study was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted on 252 individuals of 20–60 years age group. Risk factors related to cardiovascular diseases were assessed. RESULTS: Among 252 participants, the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was 32.5% and 4.8%, respectively. Around 30% of study participants were smokers, 39% were habitual of chewing tobacco, and about half of the population were not involved in active physical activities (49.2%). Raised blood glucose level was significantly associated with gender, age, smoking status, and tobacco chewing while hypertension was significantly associated with age, smoking status, and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Increased number of various risk factors among the tribal population makes them vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases and other complications.