Educational Status and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Awka, Southeast Nigeria

Background and Objectives: All over the world, cardiovascular risks constitute a heavy healthcare burden, affecting people with different levels of education, across economies in both the developed and the developing ones. Differences in educational levels in cardiovascular risks have not been completely defined. This study was set out to evaluate the influence of levels of education on the risks of cardiovascular disease in an urban community in Awka, southeast Nigeria. Methodology: In this cross sectional study of 294 subjects conducted in Awka in 2017, biodata, anthropometric and demographic data were obtained. A questionnaire was used to extract information on smoking, alcohol use, tobacco snuff use, diabetes mellitus status, time spent at work > 10 hours daily and night sleep duration < 4 hours. Blood pressure and body mass index were measured. Data were analyzed and the association between levels of education and the potential cardiovascular risks determined. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 5.4%, tobacco snuff use 5.4%, alcohol 42.2%, thickened arterial wall 27.2%, meat protein 91.8%, diabetes mellitus 9.5%, time spent at work > 10 hours daily 29.3%, obesity 33.3%, hypertension 58.5%, night sleep < 4 hours 5.4%. Levels of education has association with tobacco use (p = 0.009), alcohol use (p = 0.013), thickened arterial wall (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), time spent at work > 10 hours daily (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.020), hypertension (p < 0.001), meat consumption (p = 0.047). However, smoking and night sleep < 4 hours have no significant association with levels of education, p = 0.415, and p = 0.132. Conclusion: There was variability in the prevalence of cardiovascular risks at different levels of education. The prevalence of smoking and night sleep duration < 4 hours did not vary with levels of education. The prevalence of tobacco snuff and thickened arterial wall was high in primary education holders and meat consumption in secondary education. Alcohol prevalence increased with increasing levels of education. Diabetes mellitus, time spent oat work > 10 hours daily, hypertension and obesity increased in prevalence with increasing levels of education but declined with tertiary education.

Sociodemographic Factors for Vitamin D Levels in Children with Acute Respiratory Infection

Background and Objectives: Childhood acute respiratory infection is a public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The present study was to assess the sociodemographic determinants of vitamin D levels in patient with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) receiving care in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Nnewi, Nigeria, on 250 children with ARI. Sociodemographic data were collected and serum vitamin D levels of the subjects were assayed. The association between sociodemographic variables and vitamin D was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 250 children with ARI aged 1 - 59 months were enrolled in this study, with slight male preponderance (57.2%). About 60% of the population was less than 2 years. The majority (85.6%) of the subjects had adequate vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/dL). The mean serum vitamin D level in the subjects was (52.2 ± 25.6 ng/mL). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only gender was significantly related to vitamin D levels with males found to have a lower risk of vitamin D deficiency. {OR = 0.05 (0.004 - 0.77)}, p = 0.03. Conclusion: The association between male gender and high levels of vitamin D in acute respiratory infection was significant in this study. Further studies, however, should explore a probable role for vitamin D supplementation in children with ARI.