COMMUNITY-CENTRIC STUDY TO MITIGATE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN RURAL NEPAL: THE NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE IN NEPAL STUDY

Introduction:

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally. A community-centric reproducible, cost-effective longitudinal-risk mitigation model can potentially address rising CVD tsunamis in low-and-middle-income countries.

Methods:

The Non-Communicable Disease in Nepal (NCD Nepal) Study is a community-centric study planned and conducted in close coordination with local community in rural Nepal with an estimated 7,052 (40-75 years old) participants. Pre-specified eligible participants are invited every month in their neighborhood to undergo a comprehensive assessment for NCDs and receive lifestyle counseling and pharmacotherapy with ongoing follow-up to assess for incident CVDs and cost-effectiveness. Here, we report the preliminary findings.

Results:

A total of 1232 participants have been enrolled (5/2018 – 12/2019, Table). Mean age was 54 years (63.4% females), 47% had <$85 monthly family income, ~50% had ≤10 grade education and 14.2% were current smokers. Average daily salt-intake was 13.1 grams, hypertension and diabetes was present in 30.2% and 7.5% (46% and 16.3% were unaware, respectively). Fruits and vegetable intake was low as was physical activity level (Table).

Conclusion:

CVD risk factors are common in rural Nepal and are undiagnosed. This community-centric study offering interventions in their neighborhood will assess cost-effectiveness strategy to document and mitigate NCD in rural Nepal.