The objectives of the study were (1) to study demographic, social and economic
characteristics, health behaviors and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the
pre-ageing population, (2) to find out factors relating to risk of having cardiovascular
diseases among the pre-ageing, and (3) to suggest guidelines for heath promotion and
prevention of cardiovascular diseases. A total of 4,895 cases in the KDSS 2004 database
aged 40 - 59 years were the samples. Frequency, percentage, and mean were used to
describe the data while chi-square and logistic regression were applied to test the
relationships between factors and the risks of having cardiovascular diseases.
Results showed that the pre-ageing had behaviors that may lead to
cardiovascular diseases. These behaviors included consuming food which is salty
(29.3%), sweet (18.0%), and greasy (or with coconut milk) (16.1%). Only 8.0% of them
did exercise while 50.0% of them consumed whisky/beer/wine. About 40.1% of them
were smoking, and within this group, it showed that more than 90.0% of them
smoke regularly. Research indicated that the pre-ageing male has higher risk
behavior than the female. Among those who had risk of cardiovascular diseases,
most of them (65.7%) had hypertension. It was found that the male pre-agers had
risk of cardiovascular diseases less than the females. It was in contrast to the set
hypotheses and other studies. This may be because the numbers of overweight
females in this study was higher than males. The study also revealed that the pre-
ageing in the age group of 40-49 years had less risk of having cardiovascular diseases
than those in the age group of 50-59 years. Those pre-ageing with body mass index
(BMI) less than 25 kg/m2 had less risk of this disease compared to those with BMI
more than or equal to 25 kg/m2. The ex-smoker had significantly higher risk of
cardiovascular diseases than those in the non-smoking group. Some aspects regarding
consumption of whisky/beer/wine were in contrast to the previous body of knowledge;
this may seem from the limitations in data.
It is recommended from the research results that health activities should be
promoted to prevent cardiovascular diseases among pre-ageing people in
a community and to prepare their readiness regarding physical and mental health
before they become the aging population of the future.
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