Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health

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Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2013, Pages 95 - 103

Prevalence of self-reported diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in individuals seeking State funding in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Authors
Derek Chadeea, dachadee@yahoo.com, Terence Seemungalb, tseemungal@aol.com, Lexley M. Pinto Pereirac, *, lexleyp@gmail.com, Mary Chadeea, mchadee@yahoo.com, Rohan Maharajc, Rohan.Maharaj@sta.uwi.edu, Surujpal Teelucksinghb, pteelucksingh@gmail.com
aDepartments of Behavioural Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
bClinical Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
cPara Clinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
*Corresponding author. Address: Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Tel./fax: +1 868 663 8613.
Corresponding Author
Lexley M. Pinto Pereiralexleyp@gmail.com
Received 9 October 2012, Revised 4 February 2013, Accepted 6 February 2013, Available Online 16 March 2013.
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.002How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Hypertension; Diabetes; Heart disease; Gender specificity; Age; Education
Abstract

Objective: Diabetes, hypertension and heart disease inflict a heavy health burden on the Caribbean Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. This study assessed the prevalence of self- reported diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in lower socioeconomically placed individuals accessing welfare grants.

Method: Data collected between July 2008 and June 2009 were analyzed from 14,793 responses. The survey sought information on education, average monthly income, health, housing, and household facilities.

Results: Self-reported disease prevalence was 19.5% (95% CI: 18.9–20.2) for diabetes mellitus; 30.2% (95% CI: 29.5–30.9) for hypertension; and 8.2% (95% CI: 7.7–8.6) for cardiac disease. Diabetes and cardiac disease had equivalent gender frequency; hypertension was more prevalent in women (p < .001). Disease prevalence was highest in Indo-Trinidadians, married and divorced subjects, non-Christians and increased with age. Those with primary education alone were at greatest risk.

Conclusion: Trinidad and Tobago have a high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Hypertension showed gender specificity in women. Prevalence was highest in Indo-Trinidadians, increased with age, and primary education alone was a risk factor. Interventions to arrest the high prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases to promote wellness are needed in Trinidad and Tobago.

Copyright
© 2013 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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<Previous Article In Issue
Next Article In Issue>
Journal
Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue
3 - 2
Pages
95 - 103
Publication Date
2013/03/16
ISSN (Online)
2210-6014
ISSN (Print)
2210-6006
DOI
10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.002How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2013 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Open Access
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Cite this article

risenwbib
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Derek Chadee
AU  - Terence Seemungal
AU  - Lexley M. Pinto Pereira
AU  - Mary Chadee
AU  - Rohan Maharaj
AU  - Surujpal Teelucksingh
PY  - 2013
DA  - 2013/03/16
TI  - Prevalence of self-reported diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in individuals seeking State funding in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 95
EP  - 103
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.002
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.002
ID  - Chadee2013
ER  -