Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in young Newfoundland and Labrador adults living in rural and urban communities

Kettle, Susan M. (2000) Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in young Newfoundland and Labrador adults living in rural and urban communities. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Newfoundland and Labrador has a higher rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than any other province in Canada. Many factors have been identified as being associated with a risk of developing CVD yet their presence has not been well studied in young adults and in urban versus rural residents. A group of 540 males and females 18-34 years residing in either rural or urban Newfoundland and Labrador were studied for education level, household income, cigarette smoking, physical activity and body size. Both education and household income were found to be significantly higher in urban as compared to rural residents. No difference was noted between the number of regular smokers in the two community groups. In regards to body size, no difference was noted between BMI levels of the two groups, however more female rural residents had a waist circumference above the accepted cut-off (32.5% vs. 17.0%). A difference was noted in physical activity at work with more rural residents than urban residents engaged in heavy labour (24.5% vs. 6.6%) and more urban residents than rural residents at sedentary jobs (22.7% vs. 9.9%). Young adults in both rural and urban centers experience modifiable risk factors. Prevention programs should be focused on young adults, especially those residing in rural areas.

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