Risk factors of CVDs among residents of resource-limited rural settings. Preliminary findings based on a cross-sectional study, Ghana

Abstract Backgrounds Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors lead to morbidity and mortality among adults globally. In Ghana, there is a lack of coordinated efforts at all levels of healthcare service to prevent risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study assessed cardiovascular disease risk factors among residents of resource-limited rural settings. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional design is the first phase of a two-year community-level study aimed at implementing an intervention to reduce CVD risk in a rural community in Ghana. The study population included 379 people living in the Avenui community. We conducted a nurse-led door-to-door visit, screened for CVD risk, provided health education, and collected data using an adapted questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Categorical data were expressed as frequencies and proportions, and the Chi-Square test of associations. A multivariable logistic regression analysis with a backward elimination method was used to examine the association of the risk factors with the risk of developing CVD. Results The CVD risk among participants was categorized as ‘very high’ (35.4%), high (55.4%), and low or moderate (9.2%). There was a positive correlation between lifestyle (r = 0.126, p-value