Gender Disparities in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Young Nigerian Adults
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Abstract
Cardiometabolic diseases are increasingly emerging in young adults in low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Evidence suggests that cardiometabolic risk factors may manifest differently by gender, yet data among young Nigerian adults remain limited. This study assessed gender disparities in cardiometabolic risk factors among young adults in Abia State, Nigeria. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 young adults aged 17–40 years recruited from selected urban and rural communities in Abia State. Sociodemographic data were collected using structured questionnaires. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles were assessed using standard procedures. Cardiovascular risk was estimated using Framingham, QRISK2, and ASCVD risk scores. Gender differences were evaluated using independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and correlation analyses, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Females constituted 63.5% of participants. Females had significantly higher mean body mass index and a higher prevalence of overweight (23.0% vs. 11.3%), obesity (7.2% vs. 1.3%), and central obesity (19.4% vs. 2.5%) compared with males (p < 0.05). Females also exhibited significantly higher mean HDL-cholesterol levels. Males had significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure and Framingham risk scores than females (p < 0.05). Dyslipidemia prevalence was generally low but occurred more frequently among females. Cardiovascular risk scores showed weak correlations with anthropometric measures, except for a significant positive association between QRISK score and waist-to-hip ratio. The findings suggest that gender-tailored interventions focusing on weight management in females and blood pressure control in males may improve early cardiometabolic disease prevention in this population.
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