Risk assessment of cardiovascular disease among staff of the University of Buea, South Western Cameroon

Abstract

Current changing lifestyles of Africans may impact on their risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This study
aimed at identifying the pattern of the major risk factors of CVD and the total risk of CVD among workers of the
University of Buea. A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 313 teaching and support staff of the
institution. Fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, Triglycerides and HDL cholesterol levels were measured by
spectrophotometry. LDL cholesterol was calculated. Calculation of Risk Scores Estimation of the individual risk of
developing subsequent cardiovascular disease and the absolute risk of CHD within 10 years was done using the
Framingham Heart Study Prediction Score charts. The mean (± SEM) age of the workers was 39.8 ± 0.48 years (range
of 23 – 64 years). 38.7% (121) of the workers were overweight, while 27.8% (87) were obese. Total cholesterol level
was significantly different among the different age groups (F = 4.776, P = 0.003). There was a significant positive
correlation between total cholesterol (r = 0.144, P = 0.011) and TG (r = 0.242, P < 0.001) levels with age. Total
cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides significantly correlated with BMI. Ten-year CHD absolute risk score correlated
positively with average quantity of alcohol consumed per unit time (r = 0.248, p < 0.001). The prevalence of the risk
factors of CVD was relatively low among the workers of the University of Buea, except for overweight and obesity,
alcohol consumption and low HDL-C.