JP Stroke Foundation

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are becoming a more prevalent cause of death around the world, affecting the quality of life of people living in low-, middle- and high-income countries [1]. Kazakhstan is one of the many nations that is suffering from CVDs, as early mortality amongst its working class is pushing its economy behind. Heart disease in this country significantly affects males aged twenty to seventy years old [1]. CVDs take a large toll on the working class, as death and disability among workers increase healthcare costs and have a devastating impact on the financial sector of the country. However, if the associated risk factors of CVDs are terminated, then the prevalence of heart disease can be greatly reduced in Kazakhstan. 

Why does Kazakhstan have one of the highest mortality rates due to CVDs in the world? Let’s take a look at the country’s nutritional history. As their economy improved over the years, the overall calorie intake increased as well [1]. This rise in food consumption is due to higher income levels and better jobs. People began to live more sedentary lifestyles that lack physical activity and rely on sitting for long periods of time, which promotes the development of lifestyle diseases such as heart disease, obesity and stroke [1]. With increased risk of heart disease due to increased food consumption and sedentary lifestyles, also comes higher rates of obesity. Therefore, as the people of Kazakhstan became richer, they also adopted lifestyles that involve eating high calorie meals, being sedentary and taking the burden of job stress [1]. These factors have led to more overweight individuals that are more susceptible to hypertension and heart disease.

The reality is that there are socioeconomic disparities attributing to the prevalence of CVDs in Kazakhstan. Despite the recent promotion of healthy lifestyle related programs, the country still has a high proportion of people that cannot adequately identify risk factors related to heart disease and hypertension [1]. In general, the rural population in Kazakhstan has low levels of knowledge and risk factor identification, proving the point that the country’s high prevalence of CVDs is strongly related to socioeconomic factors [1]. Within this population, people that are males, aged, manual labor workers, and have low income, tend to have the lowest rates of risk factor identification [1]. Therefore, education is an important factor that affects the level of knowledge people have about heart disease [1]. People living in rural areas tend to have less awareness about cholesterol and blood pressure, which are biological risk factors [1]. 

Many people with enough knowledge about risk factors for CVDs still practice unhealthy habits, resulting in obesity and eventually heart disease [1]. However, educated people are still more likely to live lifestyles that are more mindful of risk factors, and remain cautious by avoiding unhealthy eating, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol [1]. Mortality due to heart disease can be significantly reduced if socioeconomic factors such as access to healthcare programs and education, are addressed especially within rural communities. As a result, promotion of preventative and management based healthcare should be done in rural sectors of Kazakhstan to spread awareness about healthy practices to increase the level of knowledge people have about risk factors. After all, knowledge is power. 

Author: Aparna Mahes

[1] Kulkayeva, G., Harun-Or-Rashid, MD., Yoshida, Y., Tulebayev, K., & Sakamoto, J. (2012). Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Rural Kazakh Population. Nagoya J Med Sci, 74(1-2), 51-61.