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Table 1 Characteristics of individuals with data on dietary behaviours (n = 24,332) in seven low- and middle- income countries, overall and by sex a

From: Evaluation of sex differences in dietary behaviours and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative surveys in seven low- and middle-income countries

 

Overall (95% CI)

Male (95% CI)

Female (95% CI)

p-value*

Socio-demographic characteristics

 Sex (%)

  Males

49.89 (48.81. 50.96)

–

–

 

  Females

50.11 (49.04, 51.18)

–

–

 

 Age (mean, years)

36.33 (36.03, 36.63)

36.24 (35.81, 36.66)

36.42 (36.08, 36.76)

0.47

 Educational Attainment (%)

  No formal schooling

14.79 (13.48, 16.20)

11.29 (9.96, 12.77)

18.26 (16.64, 20.01)

< 0.001

  Primary school

30.51 (29.18, 31.88)

32.25 (30.42, 34.14)

28.78 (27.53, 30.07)

  Secondary school or above

54.70 (53.23, 56.17)

56.46 (54.45, 58.45)

52.95 (51.37, 54.53)

 Working (%)

54.18 (52.50, 55.83)

68.74 (66.98, 70.45)

39.70 (37.29, 42.16)

< 0.001

Behavioural characteristics

 Physical Activity (%)

  Achieving 600 MET a week

84.50 (82.61, 86.21)

88.92 (87.62, 90.11)

80.10 (77.30, 82.63)

< 0.001

 Alcohol consumption

  Mean number of drinks per week

3.84 (3.45, 4.24)

6.47 (5.80, 7.15)

1.23 (1.00, 1.45)

< 0.001

 Consuming alcohol during a week (%)

  No alcohol use reported

70.65 (69.26, 71.99)

56.15 (54.29, 57.99)

85.06 (83.62, 86.40)

< 0.001

  Consume one alcoholic drink or more

29.35 (28.01, 30.74)

43.85 (42.01, 45.71)

14.94 (13.60, 16.38)

 Tobacco use, smoke or smokeless (%)

  No tobacco use

69.69 (68.31, 71.04)

51.51 (49.54, 53.49)

87.79 (86.84, 88.68)

< 0.001

  Past use of tobacco

19.29 (18.13, 20.50)

32.15 (30.300, 34.05)

6.48 (5.83, 7.19)

  Current use of tobacco

11.02 (10.34, 11.74)

16.33 (15.21, 17.53)

5.73 (5.18, 6.33)

Cardiovascular risk factors

 Waist circumference

  Mean waist circumference

85.22 (84.76, 85.68)

84.45 (83.98, 84.92)

86.01 (85.34, 86.68)

< 0.001

  High waist circumference (%) b

26.01 (24.96, 27.08)

11.02 (10.20, 11.89)

41.35 (39.73, 43.00)

< 0.001

 Blood pressure measures

  Mean systolic blood pressure

125.83 (125.47, 126.19)

128.47 (127.96, 128.97)

123.21 (122.76, 123.67)

< 0.001

  Mean diastolic blood pressure

79.76 (79.39, 80.13)

79.90 (79.39, 80.41)

79.62 (79.26, 79.98)

0.26

  Hypertension (%) c

26.69 (25.82, 27.58)

27.44 (26.12, 28.81)

25.95 (25.01, 26.92)

0.05

   Self-reported diagnosed hypertension

11.26 (10.76, 11.79)

8.74 (8.10, 9.43)

13.77 (13.06, 14.51)

< 0.001

   Undiagnosed hypertension

15.43 (14.71, 16.18)

18.70 (17.54, 19.92)

12.18 (11.49. 12.91)

 Blood glucose measures

  Mean blood glucose measure

4.83 (4.79, 4.87)

4.79 (4.74, 4.83)

4.87 (4.82, 4.93)

0.006

  Diabetes (%) d

5.82 (5.23, 6.47)

4.94 (4.30, 5.66)

6.66 (5.92, 7.49)

< 0.001

   Self-reported diagnosed diabetes

3.38 (2.86, 3.99)

2.59 (2.10, 3.19)

4.13 (3.45, 4.93)

< 0.001

   Undiagnosed diabetes

1.79 (1.53, 2.10)

1.72 (1.35, 2.18)

1.86 (1.54, 2.25)

  1. a Percentages and means accounts for sampling design with survey weights re-scaled by the survey’s sample size such that all countries contribute equally to estimates. Differences between sexes tested using Pearson’s chi-squared test for categorical variables and linear regression analysis for continuous variables
  2. bDefinition of high waist circumference, waist ≥102 cm for males and waist ≥88 cm for females
  3. c Hypertension was defined as an average systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurement > 140 mmHg, or their average diastolic blood pressure (DBP) measurement > 90 mmHg, or they reported taking medication for hypertension. Self-reported diagnosed hypertension were those who met the criteria for hypertension and also reported a diagnosis of hypertension. Undiagnosed individuals were those who had a high SBP (> 140 mmHg) or a high DBP (> 90 mmHg), did not report taking hypertension medication, and did not report a hypertension diagnosis
  4. d Diabetes was defined as having an average fasting blood glucose (FBG) level ≥ 7 mmol/L, or having a random blood glucose (RBG) level of ≥11.1 mmol/L or on medication for diabetes. Individuals with self-reported diagnosed diabetes met the criteria for diabetes and also reported a diagnosis of diabetes. Undiagnosed individuals were those who had a high FBG (≥7 mmol/L) or a high RBG (≥11.1 mmol/L), did not report taking diabetes medication, and did not report a diabetes diagnosis
  5. *p-value for difference between males and females