A Cross-sectional Assessment of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in a Sub-Himalayan Region of West Bengal, India Using who Steps Approach.

BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), principally cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability globally. The basic element of NCD prevention is the identification of the common risk factors and their prevention and control. OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, in Siliguri city of West Bengal, India using WHO Steps approach. METHODS Between April 2012 to July 2012, 779 adults of 18-64 years from Siliguri city were chosen by 30-cluster sampling. They were interviewed and measurements and laboratory tests were done. RESULTS The prevalence of behavioural risk factors like tobacco use, alcohol, unhealthy diet was 57.5%, 12.5%, 50.87% and 60.4%, respectively while that of biological risk factors like overweight, abdominal obesity and hypertension was 29.8%, 20.2% and 17.8%, respectively. The prevalence of biochemical risk categories like diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, low HDL-C was 9.1%, 17.8%, 16.6% and 67.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases was found in Siliguri city which emphasizes the need of interventions to reduce these risk factors.