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Cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress in Australian farming communities.
- Source :
-
The Australian journal of rural health [Aust J Rural Health] 2012 Jun; Vol. 20 (3), pp. 131-7. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Objective: To examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, psychological distress and associations between physical and mental health parameters within a cohort of the Australian farming community.<br />Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.<br />Setting: Farming communities across Australia.<br />Participants: Data of men (n = 957) and women (n = 835) farmers from 97 locations across Australia were stratified into categories based on National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.<br />Main Outcome Measure(s): Prevalence of and interrelationship between overweight, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes risk and psychological distress.<br />Results: There was a higher prevalence of overweight (42.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI), 34.2-50.8), obesity (21.8%, 95% CI, 18.3-25.3), abdominal adiposity (38.4% 95% CI, 24.5-52.5), hypertension (54.0%, 95% CI, 34.4-73.5) and diabetes risk (25.3%, 95% CI, 17.7-36.7) in the farming cohort compared with national data. There was also a positive significant association between the prevalence of psychological distress and obesity, abdominal adiposity, body fat percentage and metabolic syndrome in older (age ≥ 50 years) participants.<br />Conclusions: This study group of farming men and women exhibited an increased prevalence of CVD risk factors and co-morbidities. The findings indicate a positive association between psychological distress and risk for developing CVD, particularly in the older farmers. If the younger cohort were to maintain elevated rates of psychological distress, then it is foreseeable that the next generation of farmers could experience poorer physical health than their predecessors.<br /> (© 2012 The Authors. Australian Journal of Rural Health © National Rural Health Alliance Inc.)
- Subjects :
- Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Australia epidemiology
Diabetes Mellitus epidemiology
Dyslipidemias epidemiology
Female
Humans
Hypertension epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Overweight epidemiology
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Young Adult
Agriculture statistics & numerical data
Cardiovascular Diseases epidemiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1440-1584
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Australian journal of rural health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22620477
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2012.01273.x