Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among University Students: The Gender Factor

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence indicates that the pathophysiological process of cardiovascular (CV) disease begins at early age, though the manifestations of the disease do not appear until middle age adulthood. Risk factors for CV disease, particularly lipoprotein profiles, are affected by physiological abnormalities, and lifestyle related issues. To evaluate prevalence of CV diseases risk factors among university students and to investigate relation between number of risk factors and body anthropometric, hematological and biochemical indices parameters.MethodsIn this cross sectional study, 348 students were randomly recruited. Blood glucose, cholesterol profile (total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol), and triglyceride were measured using standard protocols. Physical activity (PA) level was assessed using the short-form Arabic version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ).ResultsThe most commonly encountered CV disease risk factor was low levels of HDL-C, followed by physical inactivity, high levels TG, and obese BMI. When stratified by gender, females were less likely to have low HDL-C, and high TG, whereas, males were more likely to have overweight or obese BMI (P < 0.001). About 49% of the participants had at least one CV disease risk factor, where as the prevalence of having one, two and three or more CV disease risk factors were 35.7%, 9.3% and 4%, respectively. Additionally, the number of CV disease risk factors showed strong positive correlation with increases in body fat and bone percentages, glucose, total cholesterol, TG, LDL-C, BMI, and WHR (range of R2: 0.17 to 0.603). On the other hand, physical activity, percentages of body water and muscle, HDL-C showed inverse strong correlation with cardiovascular risk factors (range of R2: -0.239 to -0.412).ConclusionsResults indicate the high prevalence of CV disease risk factors among university students, and stress the need for early intervention programs to counteract these risks.

Assessment of Risk of Metabolic Syndrome and Cardio Vascular Diseases among Medical Students in India

“…However the differences in proportion of obesity between males and females was not significant here as also observed in other studies. 9,18 Central obesity was seen significantly more among females in this study as also reported in several studies. 9,19,20 On the contrary a Greek study found central obesity significantly more among males.…”

“…Among these parameters, HDL followed by WC was abnormal among most participants in the present study which was similar to the finding of previous studies. 9,18 Abnormalities with WC followed by HDL levels was also reported by few other studies. 7,22 The indicator of metabolic syndrome that was seen least common among medical students in this study was, elevated TG followed by elevated FBS in comparison to elevated FBS followed by elevated BP reported in the study done in Bangalore, India.…”

“…21 Also in previous studies and in our study, HDL values were significantly lesser in males probably due to lower physical activity among them. 17,18,21 Only in few studies it was significantly lesser among females. 7,9 In the study done in Korea, 21 the mean TC level was 171.5 mg/dl, and the mean LDL level was 97.5 mg/dl compared to 151 mg/dl and 95 mg/dl observed in this study.…”

“…9,19,20 On the contrary a Greek study found central obesity significantly more among males. 17 Among the various parameters used for diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, previous studies reported abnormalities in 13.9% to 55.6% for WC 7,9,18,21,22 , 5.1% to 29.2% for TGs ,7,9,18 , 29.5% to 37.2% for HDL 7,9,18 , 8.4% to 21% for BP 7,9 and 3.3% to 17.6% for FBS levels 7,21 among university students. Among these parameters, HDL followed by WC was abnormal among most participants in the present study which was similar to the finding of previous studies.…”

“…In other studies, proportion of university students with at least one risk factor for cardiovascular diseases ranged from 49% to 75%. 9,18,29 …”