Background: The epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) risk factors and the CVD risk
profile, in the Nepalese population is not fully understood. Almost a third of the adult Nepalese
population is estimated to be hypertensive, but there is still lack of information on the
associations of socio-demographic characteristics and other CVD risk factors with hypertension.
The level of knowledge, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension, and their associated
factors is also poorly understood.
Objectives: This dissertation aimed to determine the prevalence of CVD risk factors including
smoking, hypertension, low physical activity, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, diabetes,
high total cholesterol and triglycerides, low HDL; describe CVD risk profiles and their
relationship with socio-demographic factors; investigate the association of prevalent
hypertension with socio-demographic characteristics and CVD risk factors; and assess
knowledge, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension, in a random sample of adults
residing in Dhulikhel, Nepal.