The health fair model for surveillance of non-communicable disease: a pilot study in St. Kitts

# Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. An important first step to create programs of meaningful intervention and prevention is the surveillance of disease burden in the population to assess specific needs and to aid in resource allocation. # Methods We employed the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) guidelines to investigate behavioral risks. Anthropometric data were collected. Biochemical analytes measured included glucose, cholesterol, and hemoglobin. Airway resistance and macular degeneration were also determined. Multivariate analysis followed by stepwise regression were performed both including and excluding cases with incomplete reporting. # Results Of the 155 individuals (0.44% of the population) included in the pilot study, 30.7% of men and 28.2% of women were hypertensive, 33.3% of men and 31.9% of women were obese, 46.7% of men and 61.5% of women had elevated cholesterol. 3.6% of men and 3.7% of women were diabetic, 23.1% of men and 40.6% of women were anemic, 34.7% of 49 evaluable participants had increased airway resistance; and three participants with suspected macular degeneration. Of all participants, 37.5% had elevated cholesterol and were not aware of it, 13.6% had hypertension and were not aware of it. Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 8.6% of patients. There was no correlation between hypertension, obesity, elevated glucose levels, elevated cholesterol levels in the participants studied (P>0.05). # Conclusions The health fair model appears to be an effective method of surveillance and data collection of NCDs.