Sains Malaysiana 29: 11-18 (2000)                                                                                                                Sains Hayat/

                                Life Sciences

Prevalence of Coronary Risk Factors: Fisherman vs

Non-fisherman in Tumpat Kelantan

Norazmi A, Idris, M.N. & Osman Ali

Jabatan Kesihatan Masyarakat,  Fakulti Perubatan HUKM

Jalan Tenteram, Bandar Tun Razak

56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 223 subjects consisting of 176 fishermen and 51 non-fishermen in Tumpat Kelantan. The objective was to compare the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors between them. Questionnaires were used to obtain the socio-economic status whilst clinical assessments were carried out to determine the nutritional and health status of the population. It was found that fishermen had lower socio- economic status as compared to non-fisherman. Prevalence of poverty among fishermen was 71.4% and 36.8% had no formal education. Three main coronary heart disease risk factors found to be high were smoking (76%), HDL-cholesterol < 35mg/dl (95.8%) and hypertension (28.8%). The preva­lence of risk factors were higher among fishermen as compared to non­fisherman. Calories and nutrients intake were low in the two groups. Calorie and protein intake for fishermen were lower (p<0.05) compared to non­fishermen. The study showed that 46.6% fishermen had two CHD risk factors and 24.1% had three or more as compared to non-fishermen (33.3% and 33.3% respectively). Only 8.3% fishermen and 15.2% non fishermen did not have any risk factor. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in number of risk factors according to age group. This study indicated that fishermen have a potential to develop coronary heart diseases thus preventive meas­ures should be instituted as soon as possible in order to alleviate those problems.

ABSTRAK

Satu kajian rentas dijalankan dikalangan 227 subjek yang terdiri daripada 176 nelayan dan 51 bukan nelayan di Tumpat Kelantan. Objektif kajian adalah untuk membandingkan prevalens faktor risiko penyakit jantung koronari (CHD) antara kedua kumpulan ini. Soal selidik digunakan untuk mendapatkan status sosioekonomi manakala penilaian klinikal dijalankan untuk menentukan status pemakanan dan kesihatan populasi. Didapati nelayan mempunyai sosioekonomi yang lebih rendah berbanding bukan nelayan. Prevalens kemiskinan dikalangan nelayan adalah 71.4% dan 36.8% tanpa pendidikan formal. Tiga faktor utama penyakit jantung koronari adalah merokok (76%), HDL-kolestrol <35 mg/dl (95.8%) dan hipertensi (28.8%). Prevalens faktor risiko lebih tinggi dikalangan nelayan berbanding bukan nelayan. Kalori dan pengambilan nutrien adalah rendah pada kedua kumpulan. Kalori dan pengambilan protein untuk nelayan adalah lebih rendah berbanding bukan nelayan (p<0.05). Kajian menunjukkan 44.6% nelayan mempunyai 2 faktor risiko CHD dan 24.1% mempunyai 3 atau lebih faktor risiko berbanding bukan nelayan (masing-masing 33.3% dan 33.3%). Hanya 8.3% nelayan dan 15.2% bukan nelayan tidak mempunyai sebarang faktor risiko. Terdapat hubungan yang signifikans (p<0.05) pada jumlah faktor risiko menurut kumpulan umur. Kajian menunjukkan nelayan mempunyai potensi untuk membentuk CHD maka langkah pencegahan perlu dijalankan segera untuk mengatasi masalah ini.

RUJUKAN/REFERENCES

Bang, H.O. & Dyerberg, J. 1972 . Plasma lipids and lipoproteins in Greenlandic west coast Eskimos. Acta Med. Scand. 192: 85.

Dyerberg, J., Bang, H.O., Stoffersen, E., Moncada, E., & Vane, J.R. 1978. Eicosapentanoic acid and prevention of thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Lancet 2: 117-119.

Gordon, T., Kannel, W.B., McGee, D. & Dawber, T.R. 1974. Death and coronary attacks in men after giving up cigarette smoking, a report from Framingham study. Lancet 1: 1345-1348.

Hirai, A., Terano, T., Tamura, Y. & Yoshida, S. 1989. Eicosapentanoic acid and adult diseases in Japan: epidemiological and clinical aspect. J. Intern Med. 225 supp 1: 69-75.

Khoo, K.L,Tan, H. & Khoo, T.H. 1991. Cardiovascular mortality in Peninsular Malaysia: 1950-1989. Med. J. Malaysia 46(1): 7-20.

Kromhout, D., Bosschieter, E.B. & Lezenne, C. 1985. The inverse relation between fish consumption and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease. N. England J. Med. 312: 1205-9.

Lars, H., Katarina, L., Anita, N. 1992. Cancer incidence and mortality among Swedish Baltic Sea fishermen. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 18: 217-24.

Norell, S.E, Ahlborn, A., Feychting, M. & Pedersen, N.L. 1986. Consumption and mortality from coronary heart disease. Br. Med. J. 293: 426.

Shekelle, R.B, Oglesby, P. & Shyrock, A. 1985. Fish consumption and mortality from coronary heart disease (letter). N. England J. Med. 313: 820.

Tomaszewski, R., Dymnicki, P., Flasinski, J. & Kliz, J. 1990. Studies on the risk of ischaemic heart disease in fishermen, seafarers and dockers. Bull. Inst. Marit Trop. Med. Gdynia 41(1- 4): 21-26.

WHO expert committee on arterial hypertension. 1980. WHO technical report series, No. 628. Geneva: World Health Organisation.

WHO expert committee on Diabetes Mellitus. 1980. WHO technical Report Series, No. 646. Geneva: World Health Organisation.