Changes in the prevalence of the common risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Uganda between 2014 and 2023: Informed by nationally representative cross-sectional surveys

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the biggest contributor to global mortality. An important way to control NCDs is to focus on reducing the prevalence of the common NCD risk factors for better NCD prevention planning. Uganda conducted its first nationally representative NCD risk factor survey in 2014, and a second in 2023. We analyzed the prevalence of the common NCD risk factors to assess changes in these between 2014 and 2023. Both surveys drew countrywide samples, and the World Health Organization's STEPS tool was used to collect the data. We calculated weighted prevalence of the following NCD risk factors: high blood pressure, high blood glucose, overweight and obesity, current alcohol consumption, current tobacco use, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, inadequate physical activity, and sedentariness. The 2014 survey enrolled 3987 participants, whereas the 2023 survey enrolled 3694. The risk factor prevalences that increased significantly were: high blood glucose from 1.5% in 2014 to 3.3% in 2023 (p< 0.001); overweight and obesity from 19.3% in 2014 to 24.1% in 2023 (p< 0.001); current alcohol consumption from 28.5% in 2014 to 31.1% in 2023 (p=0.013); and sedentariness from 26.6% in 2014 to 31.9% in 2023 (p< 0.001). The risk factor prevalences that decreased significantly were: inadequate physical activity from 5.0% in 2014 to 3.6% in 2023 (p=0.003), and current smoke tobacco use from 9.6% in 2014, to 8.3% in 2023 (p= 0.046). No significant changes were observed in the prevalence of high blood pressure from 24.6% in 2014 to 25.4% in 2023 (p= 0.418), and inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables from 87.8% in 2014 to 86.4% in 2023 (p=0.067). There is an urgent need for various stakeholders in Uganda to implement interventions targeting reduction in the prevalence of NCD risk factors to prevent the increasing burden of NCDs and associated mortality.