Table 4.
National prevalence of risk factors for diet-related chronic noncommunicable diseases in selected Eastern Mediterranean countries in persons aged ≥15 years using the STEPwise approach to surveillance
| Country (year) | Gender | Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 mmgHg; %) | Hypercholesterolemia cholesterol level (≥5.2 mmol/dl; %) | Smoking (current daily smokers; %) | Low physical daily activity (≤10 minutes; %) | Low intake of fresh fruit and vegetables (≤5 servings/day; %) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt (2005–2006) | M | 26.3 | 15.7 | 34.6 | – | – |
| F | 27.1 | 23.0 | 0.70 | – | – | |
| Total | 26.7 | 19.4 | 18.0 | 70.4 | 79.0 | |
| Iraq (2005) | M | 43.0 | 38.9 | 41.5 | 61.8 | 91.2 |
| F | 38.3 | 36.5 | 06.9 | 52.7 | 91.5 | |
| Total | 40.4 | 37.5 | 21.6 | 56.7 | 91.4 | |
| Iran (2005) | M | 17.1 | 41.0 | 24.0 | 58.8 | – |
| F | 12.5 | 46.0 | 01.9 | 76.3 | – | |
| Total | 14.8 | 43.6 | 13.0 | 67.3 | – | |
| Jordan (2007) | M | 30.9 | 35.6 | 49.6 | 54.0 | 61.9 |
| F | 21.5 | 36.5 | 05.7 | 49.0 | 52.5 | |
| Total | 25.5 | 36.0 | 29.0 | 51.0 | 57.0 | |
| Kuwait (2006) | M | 21.3 | 40.0 | 37.8 | 57.9 | 79.2 |
| F | 19.7 | 37.2 | 03.0 | 71.7 | 82.8 | |
| Total | 20.5 | 38.6 | 20.6 | 64.7 | 81.0 | |
| Saudi Arabia (2007) | M | 24.2 | 18.6 | 20.9 | 60.9 | 91.6 |
| F | 18.5 | 19.7 | 01.2 | 74.3 | 95.3 | |
| Total | 21.3 | 19.2 | 11.0 | 67.7 | 93.5 | |
| Sudan (2005) | M | 24.8 | 19.6 | 24.7 | 75.9 | – |
| F | 22.7 | 19.9 | 02.9 | 94.8 | – | |
| Total | 23.6 | 19.8 | 12.0 | 86.8 | – | |
| Syria (2003) | M | 30.4 | 36.5 | 48.0 | 21.3 | 95.8 |
| F | 26.4 | 31.6 | 08.9 | 41.0 | 95.6 | |
| Total | 28.4 | 34.0 | 24.7 | 31.2 | 95.7 |
Note: World Health Organization/Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean.119
Abbreviation: BP, blood pressure.