Objective: To investigate gender and age-specific distribution patterns of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the Saudi population for tailored health policies.
Methods: From the heart health promotion study, 3063 adult Saudis were included in this study. The study cohort was divided into five age groups (less than 40 years, 40-45 years, 46-50 years, 51-55 years and ≥56 years). The prevalence of metabolic, socioeconomic, and cardiac risk was compared between the groups. Anthropometric and biochemical data were gathered using the World Health Organization stepwise approach to chronic disease risk factors. The cardiovascular risk (CVR) was determined using the Framingham Coronary Heart Risk Score.
Results: The prevalence of CVR risk increased with age in both genders. Both Saudi men and women exhibit similar propensities for sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food habits. The prevalence of tobacco smoking was significantly higher and from an early age in males compared to females (28% and 2.7%, respectively, at age 18-29 years). There is no significant difference in either the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, or metabolic syndrome between men and women before the age of 60 years. Old Saudi females (≥60 years) have a higher prevalence of diabetes (50% vs. 38.7%) and metabolic syndrome (55.9% versus 43.5%). Obesity was more prevalent in females aged 40-49 years onwards (56.2% vs. 34.9% males), with 62.9% of females aged ≥60 years being obese compared to 37.9% of males. Dyslipidaemia prevalence increased with the progression of age, significantly more in males than females. Framingham high-risk scores showed that 30% of males were at high risk of cardiovascular diseases at the age group of 50-59 years, while only 3.7% of the females were considered as such.
Conclusions: Both Saudi men and women exhibit similar propensities for sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy food habits, with a marked increase in cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors with age. Gender differences exist in risk factor prevalence, with obesity as the main risk factor in women, while smoking and dyslipidaemia were the main risk factors in men.
Keywords: Saudi Arabia; age; cardiovascular risk; gender.