Influence of Dietary Patterns and Sociodemographic Variables on NonCommunicable Disease Prevalence among Adults in Lahore, Pakistan: A CrossSectional Investigation

Abstract

Diseases like cancer, diabetes, and obesity, which collectively are known as "Non-communicable diseases" (NCDs), account for 75 out of 100 global deaths and nearly 50 % of deaths in Pakistan. Major reasons for these rising numbers include a sedentary lifestyle, a shift towards urbanization, and the consumption of calorie-dense foods rather than home-cooked meals. Despite substantial global evidence linking dietary and socio-demographic factors to NCD prevalence, research explaining these associations remains scarce in Pakistan. This study was conducted to evaluate the association of dietary patterns and socio-demographic factors with NCD prevalence in adults of Lahore, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study enrolled 430 adults (≥18 years) through convenience sampling from Lahore, Pakistan. Cochrane's formula (50% NCD prevalence, 95% CI, 5% margin of error) was used to calculate the sample. Dietary intake was assessed using FAO guidelines across 10 food groups with five frequency levels, and intake frequency was classified as adequate or inadequate based on WHO dietary recommendations. Each participant's anthropometric information, including height, weight, and BMI, was gathered. Bivariate analysis utilizing Pearson chi-square (χ²) and Cramér's V was used to check the relationship between categorical variables. Multivariable logistic regression was run to find independent predictors of NCD prevalence. To assess if the results were statistically significant, a p-value of less than 0.05 was employed. SPSS version 23 was used for all analyses. Bivariate analysis revealed significant associations between NCD and age, female gender, marital status, vegetables, grains, fruit, dietary fats, sugary foods, and obesity. Multivariable logistic regression analysis predicted obesity (OR= 3.145; 95% CI: 1.595-6.199), marital status (OR=4.255; 95% CI: 2.533-7.149), Age >45 years (OR = 2.192; CI: 1.125-4.270), fruit intake (OR=1.692; 95% CI: 1.059-2.702) and vegetable intake (OR=0.483; 95% CI: 0.280-0.833) as the independent predictors. But still, many previous findings show unexpected associations, possibly due to changes in diet after diagnosis or due to survival bias. Among the sampled Pakistani adults, nearly half had at least one NCD, with sociodemographic and dietary factors as key determinants. However, some findings show unexpected associations. Future studies should employ longitudinal designs, probability sampling, objective anthropometric measurements, and food diaries to establish causality and improve generalizability. Keywords: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Diet-related factors, sociodemographic determinants, public health.