The Insight · Sep 3, 2026
Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Estimated 10-Year ASCVD Risk among Rural Older Adults in Bangladesh
By Arafat SM
Introduction: Cardiometabolic risk among older adults in rural Bangladesh is poorly characterised. Understanding the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and overall cardiovascular risk is important for targeted prevention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and estimate the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among older adults living in rural Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study among 405 adults aged 60-74 years from six rural villages in Dohar, Bangladesh, from February 2019 to March 2020. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical data were collected. The 10-year ASCVD risk was estimated using the 2013 ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations. Results: Dyslipidemia (60.7%), hypertension (37.5%), microalbuminuria (36.5%), diabetes mellitus (20.0%), and chronic kidney disease (9.6%) were common. Overall, 90.6% of participants had at least one cardiovascular risk factor or marker. A high estimated 10-year ASCVD risk (≥20%) was present in 22.5% of participants and was associated with male sex, age >65 years, current smoking, and unemployment or dependency. Conclusion: Cardiometabolic risk factors were highly prevalent among older adults in rural Bangladesh. Community-based cardiovascular risk assessment and targeted management of modifiable risk factors are needed. Interpret ASCVD risk estimates cautiously because the Pooled Cohort Equations have not been locally validated.