Comparative analysis of the prevalence of behavioral risk factors in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States

Studying trends in the prevalence of behavioral risk factors (RFs) is essential component for any national healthcare system. Objective. To determine the age- and sex-specific prevalence of behavioral risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Republic of Belarus. Materials and methods. The prevalence of behavioral risk factors in the Russian Federation was analyzed using data from the population sample surveyed within the «Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Regions of the Russian Federation» (ESSE-RF) study. Data for the Republic of Kazakhstan were obtained from the «Proportion of Kazakhstan Citizens Leading a Healthy Lifestyle» study. In the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Uzbekistan, data from the study performed using the STEPwise Approach to Surveillance (STEPS) methodology were utilized. The total sample consisted of 42 856 respondents. Results. The highest prevalence rates of smoking, alcohol abuse, and insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption were observed in the Republic of Belarus. Low physical activity was most prevalent in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and excessive salt intake peaked in the Russian Federation. The prevalence of smoking varied from 16.5% in the Republic of Uzbekistan to 26.7% in the Republic of Belarus (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences were found when comparing smoking frequencies across all countries, except for the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan (p=0.223). The prevalence of alcohol abuse varied from 15.5% in the Republic of Belarus to 1.4% in the Republic of Uzbekistan (p<0.001), while no statistically significant differences were found when comparing the rates obtained in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Uzbekistan (p=0.197). The proportion of individuals with low physical activity ranged from 71.8% in the Republic of Kazakhstan to 11.6% in the Republic of Belarus. The prevalence of insufficient fruit and vegetable consumption varied from 78.2% in the Republic of Belarus to 16.0% in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, excessive salt intake ranged from 45.0% in the Russian Federation to 22.8% in the Republic of Belarus. Conclusion. The study has established a detailed epidemiological portrait of the selected CIS countries.