Prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular health and diabetes among adults living in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria

Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus represent significant public health challenges in Nigeria. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular health and diabetes among adults in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria. The study included 297 participants aged 18 years and above, with data collected through structured questionnaires, physical measurements, and biochemical analyses. The findings revealed hypertension as the most prevalent cardiovascular condition (34.7%), followed by obesity (29.3%) and diabetes mellitus (26.6%). Medication adherence was notably low, with only 21.9% taking hypertension medication and 15.2% taking diabetes medication. Physical activity levels were generally insufficient, with 29.3% reporting no regular exercise. Sleep patterns showed that most participants got inadequate sleep, with 41.8% getting only 5-7 hours per night and 22.6% getting less than 5 hours. Biochemical measurements indicated borderline elevated means for various parameters, including fasting blood glucose (108.6 mg/dL) and total cholesterol (202.3 mg/dL). Knowledge levels regarding cardiovascular health and diabetes were predominantly fair to poor, although 81.8% of participants believed lifestyle changes could prevent or manage these conditions. Logistic regression analysis identified age (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05-1.17), BMI (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.07-1.25), and family history (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.42-3.09) as significant predictors of diabetes, while physical activity showed a protective effect (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.89). The study concludes that there is a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among adults in Lagos Island, coupled with poor medication adherence and limited health knowledge. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions focusing on health education, lifestyle modification, and improved healthcare access, particularly targeting high-risk groups such as older adults and those with family history of cardiovascular diseases or diabetes.