Abstract

EARLY DETECTION OF MODIFIABLE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG HIGH SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN BAGHDAD/AL-RUSAFA 2019

Ghazwan A. Baghdadi*

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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study is to estimate the prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors (smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, overweight/obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar), their co-occurrence patterns and underlying determinants among high secondary school students aged 15- 17 years. Methods: We developed a questionnaire to gather basic and clinical data, along with anthropometric, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose measurements. In addition to descriptive statistics, chi-square and fisher's exact test were performed alternatively to determine the association between modifiable risk factors and demographic characteristics. Results: 870 students were included in the study. The most common modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors were low fruit and vegetable intake (90.6%), physical inactivity (90.5%) and overweight/obesity (37.4%). Among the participants, 47.9% and 40.8% had 2 and ≥3 risk factors respectively. The most common co- occurrence pattern was low fruit/vegetable intake with physical inactivity (49.5%). Older age, male gender and positive family history of cardiovascular disease were significantly associated with increased number of cardiovascular disease risk factors (p

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Modifiable; Risk factors.