Cardiovascular risk factor levels in urban and rural Thailand - The International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia (InterASIA); The InterASIA Collaborative Group∗:

BackgroundVascular mortality is increasing in economically developing countries but reliable data about the determinants of cardiovascular disease are few. The International Collaborative Study of Cardiovascular Disease in Asia (InterASIA) was designed to obtain precise estimates of cardiovascular risk factor levels in the adult population of Thailand.DesignA complex sample survey.MethodsData from a structured questionnaire, brief physical examination and a blood sample were collected from 5305 individuals aged 35 years or older (response rate 68%). Mean risk factor levels were calculated for eight groups defined by age and sex in 18 representative urban and rural areas of Thailand. Population risk factor levels were calculated by applying sampling weights derived from the 2000 Thai Census and allowing for the complex sampling design.ResultsThe estimated mean (standard error) population blood pressure was 120/76 (0.7/0.5) mmHg, mean serum total cholesterol was 5.2 (0.06) mmol/l, mean body mass index was 2...