2011-12-31-世界卫生组织-2012_STEPS_Fact_Sheet_Saint_Lucia_2页_174kb

SAINT LUCIA STEPS Survey 2012 Summary

Introduction

The SAINT LUCIA STEPS Survey 2012 was conducted from March to August 2012 to assess chronic disease risk factors in adults aged 25-64. It employed a multi-stage sample design with 1834 participants. The data is representative of the sampled population but not the entire population due to a response rate below 60%. A follow-up survey is planned for 2016 if funding is available.

Key Findings from Step 1 (Behavioral Data)

• Tobacco Use: Smoking prevalence was 14.5% overall. Daily smokers were 9.3%, with an average start age of 18.3 years. Males had higher smoking rates (e.g., daily smoking rate 16.2%) compared to females, with significant exposure to secondhand smoke both at home and work.
• Alcohol Consumption: Lifetime abstention was high (16.7%), but current drinking was common (59.3%). Heavy episodic drinking was reported by 49.5% of males and 19.5% of females.
• Fruit and Vegetable Intake: Only 5% of adults met the guideline of five or more servings daily, with an average of below 2 servings.
• Physical Activity: Low activity levels (<600 MET-minutes/week) affected nearly 30% of respondents, while high activity (>3000 MET-minutes/week) was more common among males. Vigorous activity engagement was lowest among males.

Key Findings from Step 2 (Physical Measurements)

• Body Weight and Composition: Over 65% were overweight or obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m²), with obesity rates at 32%. Males had lower BMI than females but higher overweight/obesity percentages.
• Waist Circumference: Average waist measurements were between 86.9 cm and 92.4 cm.
• Blood Pressure: High blood pressure (SBP ≥140 or DBP ≥90) was present in 27.3%, with many not on treatment. Medication use was noted for some cases.

Key Findings from Step 3 (Biochemical Measurements)

• Blood Glucose: Impaired fasting glycaemia affected 19.3%, and raised fasting glucose was found in 22.8%. Obesity and age were linked to glucose issues.
• Cholesterol Levels: Hypocholesterolemia was moderate, but 24.5% met the raised cholesterol criteria.

Summary of Combined Risk Factors

• Prevalence of key risk factors (tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, raised BMI, and raised blood pressure) varied by gender and age. Fewer than 4% had no risks, but a substantial proportion (e.g., 33.3% overall) had three or more combined risks. Youth (25-44 years) showed high risk for certain factors, increasing with age up to 64.

Overall, the survey highlights significant chronic disease risk factors in Saint Lucia's adult population, with notable gender and age disparities. The low response rate limits generalizability, but the data underscores the need for targeted health interventions.