Ten-year Atherosclerosis Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk score and its components among nomadic population in southern Iran: A population-based study

Abstract

Introduction

Prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has increased in developing countries, such as Iran. For reducing ASCVD, epidemiological information, especially in nomadic populations, are needed. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ASCVD among the nomadic population.

Method

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 784 nomadic people aged 40–70 years in Fars province. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated with an estimator developed by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA). To determine the factors of ASCVD risk score, ordinal logistic regression was used. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16 software.

Results

The mean age of the subjects under study was 53.32 ± 8.94 years, of whom 432 (55.1 %) were female. Based on ordinal regression, access to the health centers (p = 0.002), diabetes (p < 0.001), MI (p = 0.023), not using Aspirin (p = 0.001), housekeeper job (p < 0.001), high LDL (p = 0.002), and physical activity (p = 0.04) were associated with a higher category of ASCVD risk score. Additionally, people in the age group of 60–69 years had the highest percentage in all ASCVD score classes except the low-risk group.

Conclusion

The results indicated that having modifiable risk factors increases the chance of CVD in the nomadic population, and older people are more at risk. Since this population has received less attention and plays a main role in providing food products for Iranian people, it is suggested that more attention should be paid to the health of this special group through prevention and control programs.