Cardiovascular health behaviors and associations of sex, age, and education in adolescents - Results from the EVA Tyrol study

Abstract

Background and aims: Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) behaviors in adolescents are defined by body mass index (BMI), diet, physical activity and smoking, and are directly associated with better health in later life. To further improve health prevention programs we investigated the prevalence of these behaviors in a cohort of healthy adolescents and focused on the associations with sex, age, and education. Methods and results: The Early Vascular Aging Tyrol study is a cross-sectional study assessing 14to 19-year-old pupils and apprentices in Western Austria and South Tyrol. Between May 2015 and July 2018 2047 adolescents (43.6% males, mean age 16.4 years) with complete data for all 4 health behaviors were included. The prevalence of ideal body mass index (BMI) was 78.3%, of ideal physical activity 42.5%, of non-smoking 70.4% and of ideal diet 8.1%. Females showed a higher smoking prevalence and a lower physical activity, but better dietary habits than males. Older adolescents of both sexes had lower prevalence of ideal smoking and diet. Apprentices and pupils of vocational schools had a higher BMI and a less favorable diet compared to secondary academic school students. Smoking prevalence was highest in apprentices. Non-ideal BMI was independently associated with smoking. Conclusion: In our cohort, only a minority showed ideal CVH behaviors which were best in adolescents younger than 16 years. We observed significant differences between males and females and a clear impact of school education with apprentices being at risk for non-ideal CVH behaviors. Clinical trial registration number: NCT03929692, clinicaltrials.gov.

Ideal Cardiovascular Health Behaviours in Nationally Representative School-Based Samples of Adolescents in the Caribbean

“… 22 The highest ideal CVHB metric was found for non-smoking (89.7%), which is higher than in European adolescents in 10 larger European cities (12.5–17.5 years) (60.9%) 17 and among adolescents in Austria (70.4%). 16 Ideal BMI (66.6%) in this study was similar to the 10 larger European cities study (67.8%) 17 and lower than among adolescents in Austria (78.3%) 16 and ideal PA (15.8%) was much lower than in the 10 European cities study (62.1%) 17 and among Austrian adolescents (42.6%). 16 The low prevalence of ideal PA (15.8%) in this study compares with the weighted average among adolescents in 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries (15.5% ideal PA), 24 and the prevalence of ideal BMI (66.6%) is lower weighted average among adolescents in 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries (73.6% ideal BMI).…”

“…16 Ideal BMI (66.6%) in this study was similar to the 10 larger European cities study (67.8%) 17 and lower than among adolescents in Austria (78.3%) 16 and ideal PA (15.8%) was much lower than in the 10 European cities study (62.1%) 17 and among Austrian adolescents (42.6%). 16 The low prevalence of ideal PA (15.8%) in this study compares with the weighted average among adolescents in 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries (15.5% ideal PA), 24 and the prevalence of ideal BMI (66.6%) is lower weighted average among adolescents in 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries (73.6% ideal BMI). 25 Consistent with previous research, 15 ideal CVHB differed by country, with Dominican Republic having the lowest ideal CVHB.…”

“…In a study among adolescents (14-19 years) in Austria, ideal BMI 78.3%, ideal PA 42.55, non-smoking 70.4%, and ideal diet 8.1%, 16 and the prevalence of ideal CVH in European adolescents in 10 larger European cities (12.5-17.5 years) were ideal BMI 67.8%, non-smoking 60.9%, ideal PA 62.1%, ideal diet 1.7%. 17 Factors associated with CVHB among adolescents include younger adolescents, 16 female sex, 11,18 higher socioeconomic status, 11 urban residence, 18 parental ideal health behaviours, 19 and better health-related quality of life. 20 This study aimed to determine the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of ideal CVHB among schoolgoing adolescents in four Caribbean countries in 2016/ 2017.…”

“… 14 In a review of six studies (in the USA and Europe) among young people, Pacor et al 15 found that the prevalence of ideal diet was 0–10%, ideal physical activity (PA) ranged from 66.2% to 85.4% ideal body mass index (BMI) ranged from 66.3% to 85.4%. In a study among adolescents (14–19 years) in Austria, ideal BMI 78.3%, ideal PA 42.55, non-smoking 70.4%, and ideal diet 8.1%, 16 and the prevalence of ideal CVH in European adolescents in 10 larger European cities (12.5–17.5 years) were ideal BMI 67.8%, non-smoking 60.9%, ideal PA 62.1%, ideal diet 1.7%. 17 …”

“…Factors associated with CVHB among adolescents include younger adolescents, 16 female sex, 11 , 18 higher socioeconomic status, 11 urban residence, 18 parental ideal health behaviours, 19 and better health-related quality of life. 20 This study aimed to determine the prevalence, distribution, and correlates of ideal CVHB among school-going adolescents in four Caribbean countries in 2016/2017.…”