The Centre for Health Protection has set up a surveillance system on behavioural risk factors to aid the formulation of health promotion programmes and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Findings of the first survey conducted in last October are available on the centre's website.

The centre's Surveillance & Epidemiology Branch Senior Medical Officer Dr Caroline Tsang said the risk of non-communicable diseases - major causes of death in Hong Kong - is closely related to lifestyle and behaviour. Behavioural risk factors such as inadequate consumption of vegetables and fruit, lack of exercise, obesity and smoking can increase the risk of developing such diseases.

The four major non-communicable diseases - cancer, heart diseases, stroke and chronic lower respiratory diseases - accounted for 61.5% of all deaths in 2003.

Early detection key

"The surveillance system is aimed at collecting information on behavioural risk factors in the local adult population. The information will be useful for monitoring the trend of risk factors and early detection of important health issues, to support formulation of appropriate health promotion strategy and evaluation of health promotion programmes," Dr Tsang said.

The surveillance system obtains information through telephone surveys that are conducted once or twice a year. The first survey was conducted in October last year. Subsequent surveys will be carried out at six- to 12-month intervals. Each time, at least 2,000 randomly selected adults, aged 18 to 64, are sampled and interviewed on their health-related lifestyles and behaviour.

During the first survey, information on a variety of behavioural risk factors was collected, including people's weight status, level of physical activity, dietary habits in consuming fruits and vegetables, smoking and cervical screening practice.

"The findings reinforced the importance of health promotion programmes. The Department of Health will continue with efforts in health promotion and non-communicable disease prevention in collaboration with other organisations, and enhance public participation in health promotion," she added.