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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0PLOS One

Age-stratified prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in Nepal: Insights from the STEPS survey 2019

  • Durga Datta Chapagain1
  • Kennedy Mensah Osei2
  • Iga Danik Prasiska3
  • Vasuki Rajaguru4
  • Sunjoo Kang5
  • Heejin Kimm6
  • Tae Hyun Kim
  • Sang Gyu Lee
  • Whiejong Han
6 affiliations
  1. 1Global Health Security, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
  2. 2Ministry of Health, Bagamati Province, Nepal
  3. 3Healthcare Management, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
  4. 4Department of Global Health and Disease control, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
  5. 5Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  6. 6Department of Preventive medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
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Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Nepal. Despite the growing burden of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, limited evidence exists on age-stratified patterns of NCDs and associated risk factors, especially among younger populations. This study investigated age-stratified prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia and risk factors in Nepal to inform age-specific preventions and policy interventions. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from the 2019 STEPS Survey, including 3,219 participants aged 15–69 years. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests describe participant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between risk factors and NCDs, while univariate logistic regression, Wilcoxon scores, and pairwise multiple comparisons examined age-group differences in prevalence of NCDs and risk factors. Results: The mean participant age was 35.3 ± 12.8 years, with 56% female. Among adults aged ≥60 years, 50% used tobacco and 31.5% consumed alcohol. Alcohol consumption was also notably prevalent among individuals aged 15–29 years, affecting 30.7% of this age group. Physical inactivity was identified in 18.9% of the overall study population. The highest rates of overweight (30.2%) and stress (80.1%) were among adults aged 30–44, with obesity (9.0%) peaking at 45–59 years. Men (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.62–2.55) and those aged 60 years or older (OR 4.92, 95% CI 3.35–7.22) had higher odds of hypertension. Diabetes (OR 6.34, 95% CI 3.58–11.23) and hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.77–3.98) were most prevalent in the 45–59 age group. Conclusions: The prevalence of NCDs and risk factors increases with age, yet substantial burdens exist among younger adults. Age-specific targeted policies should promote healthy behaviors and routine screening in youth, emphasize metabolic risk management and early detection in middle age, and ensure sustained treatment access and continuity of care for older adults.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{chapagain2026agestratified,
  title = {{Age-stratified prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in Nepal: Insights from the STEPS survey 2019}},
  author = {Durga Datta Chapagain and Kennedy Mensah Osei and Iga Danik Prasiska and Vasuki Rajaguru and Sunjoo Kang and Heejin Kimm and Tae Hyun Kim and Sang Gyu Lee and Whiejong Han},
  journal = {PLOS One},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0340932},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340932},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Age-stratified prevalence and associated risk factors of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia in Nepal: Insights from the STEPS survey 2019
AU  - Durga Datta Chapagain
AU  - Kennedy Mensah Osei
AU  - Iga Danik Prasiska
AU  - Vasuki Rajaguru
AU  - Sunjoo Kang
AU  - Heejin Kimm
AU  - Tae Hyun Kim
AU  - Sang Gyu Lee
AU  - Whiejong Han
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/16
JO  - PLOS One
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0340932
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340932
AB  - Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Nepal. Despite the growing burden of hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia, limited evidence exists on age-stratified patterns of NCDs and associated risk factors, especially among younger populations. This study investigated age-stratified prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia and risk factors in Nepal to inform age-specific preventions and policy interventions. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from the 2019 STEPS Survey, including 3,219 participants aged 15–69 years. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests describe participant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression assessed associations between risk factors and NCDs, while univariate logistic regression, Wilcoxon scores, and pairwise multiple comparisons examined age-group differences in prevalence of NCDs and risk factors. Results: The mean participant age was 35.3 ± 12.8 years, with 56% female. Among adults aged ≥60 years, 50% used tobacco and 31.5% consumed alcohol. Alcohol consumption was also notably prevalent among individuals aged 15–29 years, affecting 30.7% of this age group. Physical inactivity was identified in 18.9% of the overall study population. The highest rates of overweight (30.2%) and stress (80.1%) were among adults aged 30–44, with obesity (9.0%) peaking at 45–59 years. Men (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.62–2.55) and those aged 60 years or older (OR 4.92, 95% CI 3.35–7.22) had higher odds of hypertension. Diabetes (OR 6.34, 95% CI 3.58–11.23) and hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.77–3.98) were most prevalent in the 45–59 age group. Conclusions: The prevalence of NCDs and risk factors increases with age, yet substantial burdens exist among younger adults. Age-specific targeted policies should promote healthy behaviors and routine screening in youth, emphasize metabolic risk management and early detection in middle age, and ensure sustained treatment access and continuity of care for older adults.
SN  - 1932-6203
ER  -