Features of Risk Factors for the Development of Atherosclerosisassociated Cardiovascular Diseases in the Kazakhstani Population: Ethnonational Aspect

Background. Atherosclerosis-associated cardiovascular diseases exhibit significant ethnic and regional variability in risk factors. Kazakhstan’s high cardiovascular disease mortality rates necessitate population-specific profiling, particularly given urban-rural disparities and lifestyle differences unique to Central Asia. Methods. This cross-sectional study (2023–2024) analyzed 368 Kazakhstani adults stratified by European Atherosclerosis Society risk tiers: low (n=67), high (n=127), and very high risk (very high-risk group, n=174). Assessments included lipid profiles (low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A ratio), lifestyle factors (smoking, diet, physical activity), and residence (urban/rural). Statistical analyses employed multiclass logistic regression (MNLogit) with FDR-adjusted p-values. Results. Age (OR=8.01, 95% CI:4.40–14.58, p<0.001), male sex (OR=3.27, CI:1.82– 5.88), and smoking (OR=7.19, CI:1.52–34.15) were strongly associated with very highrisk group. Rural residents faced 2.6-fold higher very high-risk group odds (CI:1.52– 5.68, p=0.002) versus urban counterparts. Protective effects emerged for physical activity (OR=0.03, CI:0.004–0.32) and female sex (High-Density Lipoprotein: +8.1 mg/dL vs. males, p<0.001). No alcohol association was observed (p=0.836). Conclusion. A thorough study of the gender aspect of the development of atherosclerotic pathology is required. Physical activity has a strong protective effect. It is interesting that, according to the comparative analysis of binary variables, rural residents have a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis.