Prevalence of lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of medical students

Abstract

The aim of the cross-sectional study was to evaluate cardiovascular risk factors in the group of medical students with gender, overweight and obesity categorisation. Methods: Cross-sectional study included 364 medical students, 207 females and 157 males. We investigated anthropometric parameters, BMI, body fat percentage, WHR (waist-hip ratio), TCH (total cholesterol) and LDL-CH (LDL-cholesterol), SBP and DBP (systolic and diastolic blood pressure). The participants also completed questionnaires with socio-demographic characteristic, including smoking, unhealthy eating, self-perceived health, and physical activity status. Statistical analysis used t-test differences in arithmetic means and OR calculation with 95% CI. Results: Prevalence of increased blood pressure (> SBP/DBP 120/80 mmHg) among participants was 10.99% (SBP) and 9.07% (DBP). The results confirmed risk of "overweight + obesity" in 15.38% (using BMI evaluation) versus 18.54% cases (using body fat percentage evaluation). The results of the study confirmed statistically higher risk for males compared to females in the following parameters: SBP, DBP, BMI, body fat percentage, self-perceived health, unhealthy eating and body weight watching. "Overweight and obesity" group (BMI evaluation) confirmed all factors on statistically significant level a risky group: SBP, DBP, body fat percentage, TCH, self-perceived health, smoking, stress at university, and body weight watching. The outputs confirmed, on the other hand, low amount of clinical obesity (0.8%), clinical hypertension (BP > 140/90) 1.1%, and clinically higher cholesterol level (TCH > 5.2 mmol/l) in 8.7% participants. Conclusions: We confirmed higher prevalence or cardiovascular risk factors among males. Also, group of "overweight and obese" students had higher frequency of cardiovascular risk factors. Border limits for risk evaluation were strong, so on clinical level we can evaluate the group of medical students as healthy. In the group of young medical students, we confirmed lower frequency of risk factors compared to the Slovak population average.

Determinantes de saúde e fatores de risco cardiovasculares em estudantes de medicina: Uma revisão narrativa da literatura

“…No tocante aos parâmetros relacionados ao peso e medidas corporais, Rimárová et al (2018) objetivaram avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular entre estudantes de medicina categorizados por gênero, sobrepeso e obesidade. Com um estudo transversal envolvendo 364 estudantes de medicina, investigou-se parâmetros antropométricos, IMC, percentual de gordura corporal, RCQ (relação cintura-quadril), TCH (colesterol total) e LDL-CH (LDL-colesterol), PAS e PAD (pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica).…”

“…O fato de um grupo de indivíduos apresentar "sobrepeso e obesidade" confirmou-se estatisticamente como fator de risco para hipertensão, maior porcentagem de gordura corporal, ser tabagista, ter estresse na universidade e maior vigilância do peso corporal. Vale saliente que entre estudantes mais jovens ou que cursam períodos iniciais houve uma menor frequência de fatores de risco em comparação com a média da população geral (Rimárová et al 2018).…”

Contributions of Anthropometrics and Lifestyle to Blood Pressure in Japanese University Students : Investigation by Annual Health Screening

“…One month after the primary health screening, secondary screening is performed in our infirmary for the students showing high BPs (SBP ≥ 140 and / or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg) constantly in the primary screening. The repetitive BPs measurement is educational to learn natural BPs fluctuation, relationship of BMI and BPs, and self-control of BMI (15).…”

“…BMI : body mass index (kg/m 2 ), DBP : diastolic blood pressure, SBP : systolic blood pressure. risk accumulation (15), the prevalence of obesity and hypertension was evident in males relative to females. Moreover, marked increase in the prevalence of obesity as increasing age was observed in both males and females (p < 0.001), whereas steady increase in the prevalence of hypertension was noted in males (p < 0.001) but not in females.…”

Avaliação dos Fatores de Risco Cardiovascular nos Estudantes de Medicina: Revisão de Literatura / Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Medical Students: Literature Review

“…De acordo comRimárová et al (2018), 47,53% dos estudantes de medicina consideram que o estresse está relacionado ao ambiente universitário.Outra percepção está no estudo realizado porSantos et al (2017), que identificou que a prevalência de estresse relatado pelos estudantes foi mais baixa, com um total de 13,75%.Além dos fatores de risco modificáveis, também devem ser avaliados os FRCV não modificáveis, como é o caso da história familiar. Segundo o estudo realizado porNyombi et al (2016), foi possível verificar de 12,2% dos participantes tinham história familiar de HAS.Ademais, foi possível visualizar que no estudo realizado porRaza et al (2010), com 132 estudantes de medicina, a prevalência de história familiar relacionada a DCVs foi de 56,8%.Mesmo com uma alta prevalência de alguns FRCV entre os estudantes de medicina, o estudo realizado porRimárová et al (2018) demonstrou que 73,35% dos participantes consideram sua saúde como muito boa ou excelente. De acordo comGiri et al (2012), apenas 53,5% dos participantes apresentaram alguma preocupação de desenvolverem DCVs no futuro.…”