Dietary Patterns, Physical Activity, and Cardiovascular Risk in Middle-Aged Women in Abia State, South East Nigeria

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of non-communicable disease mortality in Nigeria, and middle-aged women represent a high-risk group in whom preventable risk factors including poor dietary patterns and physical inactivity often go unaddressed. This study examines dietary patterns, physical activity levels, and cardiovascular risk indicators among women aged 40 to 60 years in Aba North and Umuahia North local government areas of Abia State, South East Nigeria. An analytical cross-sectional study enrolled 340 women through community-based sampling. Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis of food frequency questionnaire data, identifying major dietary patterns within the population. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form. Cardiovascular risk indicators measured included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, fasting lipid profile, waist circumference, and body mass index. A composite Framingham risk score was calculated for each participant. Multiple regression analyses examined the independent and combined effects of dietary pattern scores and physical activity category on each cardiovascular risk marker after adjustment for age, parity, menopausal status, educational attainment, and employment status. Mediation analysis was conducted to test whether body mass index mediates the association between dietary patterns and blood pressure. Findings will advance understanding of modifiable cardiovascular risk in middle-aged Nigerian women and inform gender-responsive prevention strategies in South East Nigeria. Keywords: dietary patterns, cardiovascular risk, physical activity, middle-aged women, Abia State.