Diabetes and correlates of cardiovascular diseases among women aged 15-49 years in Benin: evidence from a Demographic and Health Survey

Abstract Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries are facing an epidemiological shift from infectious diseases to chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The burden of CVDs in a population results from the prevalence of several factors. This study was to determine the association of diabetes and correlates with heart and lung diseases.Methods: We used Benin Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) population-based cross-sectional data. BDHS 2017-18 is the fifth of its kind. A total of 7712 women of reproductive age were included in this study. Heart and lung diseases were the outcome variables. Percentage and logistic regression model were used to analyze the data. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%.Results: The prevalence of heart disease was 1.3% (95%CI: 1.0%-1.7%) and lung disease was approximately 1.5% (95%CI: 1.2%-1.9%). Women who had diabetes were also found to be 3.57 times significantly more likely to have heart disease when compared with those who do not have diabetes (AOR= 3.57; 95%CI: 1.51 – 8.45). Furthermore, women with diabetes were 4.55 times significantly more likely to also have lung diseases when compared with those who do not have diabetes (AOR= 4.55; 95%CI: 2.06 – 10.06). Women who had hypertension were found to be 3.18 times significantly more likely to have heart disease when compared with those who had no hypertension (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.18; 95%CI: 2.02 – 4.98).Conclusion: Diabetes was a key determinant of heart disease. Health policymakers and government need to focus on widespread prevention and control interventions of heart disease through improved screening for risk factors and early detection of CVDs especially among high-risk women. The government should also create nationwide awareness and educate people about CVDs and its fatality rate.