Prevalence of behavioural and biological risk factors for non-communicable diseases among the population of Moscow

Abstract

Introduction. High mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Russia and worldwide, as well as the need to assess effectiveness of the government initiatives aimed at preventing the NCD spread, substantiate monitoring of the dynamics in prevalence of the NCD main risk factors in the region. The purpose was to study the prevalence of risk factors in the Moscow residents over seventeen years. Material and methods. 805 Moscow residents over seventeen years participated in a telephone survey (2022). Mobile and landline phone numbers were selected using a random, systematic, stratified, dual-frame sampling method applied according to the main module of the STEPS questionnaire, with some questions from the expanded module. Results. The monitoring results allowed identifying prevalence of the NCD behavioural and biological risk factors among Muscovites associated with the use of nicotine-containing products, alcohol, vegetables/fruits, and salt consumption, adherence to physical activity, high blood pressure, high glucose and cholesterol levels, a history of cardiovascular diseases, cervical cancer screening, and the use of certain medications and alternative medicine. Specifically, 29% of those surveyed consumed tobacco products, 13% had excessive alcohol use in the past month, 14% were regular salt users, 53% did not consume enough fruits and vegetables, and 20% did not meet WHO standards for physical activity. Health care providers had ever told 44% of those surveyed that they had high blood pressure, 16% that they had high sugar, and 32% that they had high cholesterol level. Limitations. The study was conducted as a telephone survey, so we were unable to obtain physical/biochemical data or investigate the impact of visual presentation on respondents. Conclusion. The information obtained can make a contribution to the existing public health programs and can be useful as a basis for future strategies aimed at combating NCDs.