Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality
worldwide. Risk assessment has been shown to reduce cardiovascular
morbidity and mortality. In view of their proximity and accessibility,
community pharmacies could be a suitable site for cardiovascular risk
assessment and other preventive health activities especially in rural
underserved populations. The objective of this study was to assess
outcome of cardiovascular risk assessment among rural community
dwellers. Materials and methods: Five hundred and five community
dwellers aged 40 to 80 years were recruited for the study.
Cardiovascular risk assessment was performed using the region specific
WHO/ISH risk assessment charts. Blood pressure, diabetes status, total
non- fasting cholesterol, and age were used to estimate risk category.
Demographic variables and clinical characteristics were expressed as
frequency and percentage. Regression analysis was done to identify
predictors of high risk category. Results: More than 30% of subjects
were hypertensive. Nearly 30% were overweight and had abnormal
cholesterol levels. The proportion of subjects in the high risk
category was 8.9%. Systolic blood pressure, random blood sugar and
advancing age were the highest predictors of high risk category.
Conclusion: Accessibility, proximity and availability are unique
characteristics of community pharmacies that could be exploited to
support community based screening services. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.35 Cite as: Adje DU, Williams FE,
Oparah AC. Outcomes of cardiovascular risk assessment among rural
community dwellers in Ezionum, Nigeria-implications for public health.
Afri Health Sci.2019;19(2): 2112-2120.
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v19i2.3