A COMPARISON OF THE PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS OF NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN THE EAST- AZARBAYJAN PROVINCE, 2004 - 2007.

Non-communicable diseases account for 60% of deaths and 47% of the global burden of diseases. Seventy five percent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Most of these diseases have risk factors such as: hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, obesity and bad nutritional habits. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of risk factors of non-communicable diseases in the East- Azerbaijan province between 2004 and 2007.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out using cluster sampling method. Each cluster included 20 people (aged 15-64) from both genders and 5 age groups (15-24, 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 and 55-64 years old). The samples were 3740 and 995 for years 2004 and 2007, respectively. The results were analyzed using SPSS software and a 95% confidence interval.

Results: The prevalence of the risk factors for years 2004 and 2007(respectively) were as follows: Hypecholesterolemia: 12. 1% & CI(6-18), 13% & CI(10-15). Physical activity (at least 10 min exercise in leisure time): 29. 6% & CI(21-39), 33. 6% & CI(30-36). Hypertension: 16. 3 & CI(9-23), 24. 1% & CI(21-27). Diabetes: 5. 5% & CI(1-10) ,11. 4% & CI(10-14). Cigarette smoking: 10. 7% & CI(5-10), 14. 5& CI(12-17). Obesity:17% & CI(10-24), 23. 6% & CI(21-26). Fruit usage: 95% & CI (91-99), 95. 6% & CI (94-97). Vegetables usage : 83% & CI(76-90), 97% &CI(96-98). Fish usage : 29. 7% & CI(20-38)& 70. 7% & CI(68-73). Solid oil usage: 89. 9% & CI(84-96),68. 1 & CI(60-77). Liquid oil usage:7. 4% & CI(2-12), 28. 5 &CI (20-37).

Conclusions: In this study we found no statistical difference between the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, physical activity, hypertension, obesity, cigarette smoking and fruit usage, between years 2004 and 2007. The prevalence of diabetes however, increased and other nutritional habits improved in 2007.