Background: Chronic diseases, such as cancer, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, are leading causes of death in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence of risk factors of these chronic diseases, and to compare our results with those of previous studies. Methods: From April to September 2000 we analyzed the health status of adults between the ages of 40 and 64 who voluntarily visited a medical center in Taichung for preventive services. These services included a detailed medical history, physical examination, and measurement of fasting blood biochemistry. Results: Among the 2944 volunteers, 39.0% were male and 61.0% were female. The average age was 50.2 ±6.9 years. After meticulous interpretation, we summarized the abnormal findings as follows: 12.0% and 24.7% of the cases were obese and overweight, respectively; 21.3% and 23.6% of the cases had one shot of high systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively; 19.7% of the cases were hyperuricemic; 40.0% of the cases were hypercholesterolemic; 13.7% of the cases were hypertriglycerolemic; diabetes millitus and glucose intolerance Were provisionally diagnosed in 6.6% and5.9% of the cases, respectively. In addition, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels increased significantly with age in women (ρ< 0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels increased significantly with age in men (ρ< 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with previous studies, there was still a high prevalence of obesity and provisionally diagnosed diabetes mellitus. However, there was a decrease in the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglycerolemia, hyperuricemia as well as hypertension in our study.
Background: Chronic diseases, such as cancer, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, are leading causes of death in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to detect the prevalence of risk factors of these chronic diseases, and to compare our results with those of previous studies. Methods: From April to September 2000 we analyzed the health status of adults between the ages of 40 and 64 who voluntarily visited a medical center in Taichung for preventive services. These services included a detailed medical history, physical examination, and measurement of fasting blood biochemistry. Results: Among the 2944 volunteers, 39.0% were male and 61.0% were female. The average age was 50.2 ±6.9 years. After meticulous interpretation, we summarized the abnormal findings as follows: 12.0% and 24.7% of the cases were obese and overweight, respectively; 21.3% and 23.6% of the cases had one shot of high systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively; 19.7% of the cases were hyperuricemic; 40.0% of the cases were hypercholesterolemic; 13.7% of the cases were hypertriglycerolemic; diabetes millitus and glucose intolerance Were provisionally diagnosed in 6.6% and5.9% of the cases, respectively. In addition, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and fasting blood glucose levels increased significantly with age in women (ρ< 0.001). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels increased significantly with age in men (ρ< 0.001). Conclusions: Compared with previous studies, there was still a high prevalence of obesity and provisionally diagnosed diabetes mellitus. However, there was a decrease in the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglycerolemia, hyperuricemia as well as hypertension in our study.