Prevalence of non-communicable disease risk factors and their association with economic status: findings from the 2021 health behaviour of population survey in Thailand.

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are major contributors to mortality and disease burden; however, evidence regarding NCD risk factors, particularly socioeconomic factors, remains limited.

Objectives: We investigated the prevalence of five key behavioural risk factors for NCDs (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and overweight/obesity) within the Thai population and the influence of economic status on these risk factors.

Methods: We gathered secondary data from the 2021 health Behaviour of Population Survey. Data were derived from a stratified, nationally representative household survey using two-stage sampling. Economic status was categorised into very low, low, middle, high, and very high levels.

Results: Among the 207,191 participants (weighted to represent 26,600,947 participants), the most prevalent NCD risk factor was an unhealthy diet (56.93%), followed by overweight/obesity (50.03%), physical inactivity (42.70%), alcohol consumption (29.73%), and smoking (16.61%). Higher economic levels were associated with increased odds of alcohol consumption (e.g. adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03-1.25 for high) and an unhealthy diet (AOR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.15-1.38 for very high), while smoking odds decreased (AOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.59-0.77 for very high). Physical inactivity exhibited a U-shaped association, and overweight/obesity slightly increased at the highest economic levels (AOR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01-1.21).

Conclusion: Unhealthy dietary patterns and overweight/obesity were the most prevalent NCD risk factors. Smoking was the least prevalent. Tailored, evidence-based interventions targeting specific economic groups are needed to effectively reduce NCD risk factors and promote health equity.