Key result
Laboratory-based WHO charts yield ~0.5-point higher mean 10-year CVD risk scores than non-laboratory tools.
Cross-Sectional (n=223)
No
Mean Difference: 0.542
Absolute Event Rate: 6.34% vs 5.8%
p-value: p=0.014
One-quarter of urban adults aged 40 and older in Northern Ethiopia have an elevated 10-year predicted CVD risk (≥10%), underscoring the need for routine primary care risk assessment and targeted prevention.
May inform local CVD prevention planning in Ethiopia; leaves open whether laboratory-based WHO charts improve risk stratification over non-laboratory versions.
Introduction The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly increasing in developing countries, where effective prevention and treatment are urgently needed to reduce its substantial economic and healthcare costs. This study aimed to estimate the 10-year risk of CVD and its predictors in the urban setting of northern Ethiopia using the latest World Health Organization (WHO) CVD risk prediction charts. Methods A total of 223 participants aged 40 + years were selected using a systematic random sampling technique from Mekelle City. Socio-demographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. CVD risk scores were estimated using the updated 2020 WHO CVD risk prediction charts. The predicted CVD risk scores were determined using the laboratory-based and non-laboratory-based charts. Linear regression was applied to estimate the beta coefficients and identify predictors of CVD risk scores. Results More than half (53.4%) of the participants were female, with a mean (± SD) age of 52.8 (± 11.24) years. Around a quarter (26.0%) of the participants had a 10-year predicted CVD risk of ≥ 10%. The prevalence of hypertension, elevated total blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, and current smoking status was 52.0%, 44.4%, 14.3%, and 7.6%, respectively. Male gender (β = 2.22, p < 0.001), advanced age (β = 0.30, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (β = 5.71, p < 0.001), and elevated total blood cholesterol (β = 0.02, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a higher 10-year predicted risk of CVD. Conclusion One-quarter of adults aged 40 years and older had an elevated predicted 10-year CVD risk ≥ 10%. Higher predicted risk was associated with male sex, older age, diabetes mellitus, higher systolic blood pressure, and elevated total blood cholesterol. These findings highlight the need to integrate WHO CVD risk assessment into routine primary healthcare and strengthen targeted prevention strategies, particularly for high-risk populations, to reduce the future burden of CVD.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gebremedhin Gebreegziabiher (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk (n=223). Laboratory-based WHO CVD risk prediction chart vs. Non-laboratory-based WHO CVD risk prediction chart was evaluated on Mean 10-year predicted WHO cardiovascular disease risk score (%) (MD 0.542, p=0.014). Laboratory-based WHO risk charts identified a 10-year CVD risk ≥10% in 26.0% of urban Ethiopian adults, yielding a higher mean risk score than non-laboratory charts (6.34% vs 5.80%; MD 0.542, p=0.014).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: