SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND LIFESTYLE DETERMINANTS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO CONSUMPTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH OBESITY AND HYPERTENSIO

Abstract

Now-a-days tobacco consumption is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Prevalence of smokeless tobacco (SLT) consumption is increasing very rapidly around the world. In India, very sparse data are available on the prevalence and association of SLT use with hypertension and obesity. So, this study was undertaken to look into the association of SLT consumption with obesity and hypertension and also to find out the prominent risk factors of SLT consumption in an adult male urban population of India. 1216 male individuals of Kolkata were randomly selected for the cross-sectional study. Subjects were interviewed regarding their sociodemographic profile and lifestyle pattern. BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR and blood pressure of the subjects were recorded. All statistical computations were performed with SPSS, version 20.0. Prevalence of SLT use was 26.7%. Mean SBP, DBP, WC and WHR were higher in SLT users, whereas mean BMI was lower among them. Prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in SLT users, on the other hand, prevalence of obesity parameters were lower in them. Increasing age, lower socio-economic status and alcohol consumption were the major risk factors of SLT use. SLT use was positively associated with obesity and hypertension. The study revealed a relatively high prevalence of SLT use in the study area. An increased prevalence of hypertension and a decreased prevalence of obesity are seen among SLT users. SES and alcohol consumption increases the risk. Lifestyle modification along with healthcare strategies and prevention of SLT consumption could be an important intervention in preventing the ongoing upswing in prevalence of chronic heart disease.