High rates of cardiometabolic diseases: Are lifestyle factors to blame?
A recent study explored the prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Canada, highlighting lifestyle behaviours that may be linked.
The prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke continue to rise. Being diagnosed with more than one of these conditions is considered cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM). A major concern within is that patients with CM are not receiving adequate healthcare. This is because care is often provided based on one disease. Furthermore, lifestyle factors such as physical activity, diet, and stress are thought to be strongly associated with cardiometabolic diseases. How strongly are these lifestyle factors associated with cardiometabolic diseases?
Published in BMC Public Health, researchers looked at data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS). The CCHS is a survey that is randomly sent out to 65,000 Canadians every year. Age, education level, body mass index (BMI), income, marital status, and sex was considered in this study. For precise analysis, eight groupings were created: no cardiometabolic condition; diabetes; heart disease; stroke; heart disease and diabetes; stroke and diabetes; stroke and heart disease; and diabetes; heart disease; and stroke. Physical activity, diet, and stress were all assessed.
This study focused on individuals who were aged fifty years old and over. The study reported that 13.5% had a diabetic history, 9.8% had been diagnosed with heart disease, and 2.3% had been living with the after-effects of a stroke. Furthermore, 22% of diabetics had an additional cardiometabolic disease. For individuals with heart disease, 32.2% had an additional cardiometabolic condition, and 48.4% had a stroke. Individuals with higher education and income status showed lower rates of cardiometabolic diseases. Individuals who had higher BMIs were more likely to have cardiometabolic diseases. A total of 3.5% of Canadians examined in this study had CM. These numbers were more prevalent in females.
Lifestyle factors were strongly associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Out of the surveyed Canadians with CM, 50% had higher stress levels by 22%, while 50% showed complete inactivity, and a staggering 73% mentioned not eating enough fruits and vegetables. Inactivity and stress levels were higher among those with cardiometabolic disease or CM.
The study suggests that patients who have a cardiometabolic disease should be treated immediately to help avoid the development of CM. Focusing on improving lifestyle factors could help decrease the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and early fatality.
Written by Laura Laroche, HBASc, Medical Writer
References:
Sakakibara, Brodie, M., Obembe, Adebimpe, O., Eng, Janice J. “The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity and its association with physical activity, diet, and stress in Canada: evidence from a population-based cross-sectional study”. BMC Public Health. October 24th, 2019. Online
Too many Canadians live with multiple chronic conditions, say UBC researchers. 2019, https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-12/uobc-tmc120919.php, assessed Dec 12th, 2019.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
