A STUDY ON CARDIO VASCULAR RISK FACTOR PROFILE OF MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL KERALA

Abstract

Background: Life style related behavioural risk factors are attributed for increased burden of cardio- vascular diseases. Research related to these risk behaviours among medical students is essential, considering their role as future physicians.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, association between risk factors and gender and correlation between anthropometric parameters and lipid profile and blood pressure among first year students.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 144 medical students. Using a pretested questionnaire information about family history of coronary artery disease, tobacco and alcohol use, total physical activity were collected. Blood pressure, anthropometric and metabolic parameters were measured.

Results: Cardiovascular risk factors observed were low High Density Lipoprtein(HDL)(33%), high Waist circumference (WC) (23%), Overweight (15%), Obesity (12%), high Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (10%), high Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) (21%), low physical activity (13%), high Atherogenic Index (AI) (16%), Family history of coronary heart disease(12%), high Triglyceride (TG)(13%) and high Low Density Lipoprtein (LDL)(5%). Prevalence of at least one coronary heart disease risk factor was 75% among the study subjects with 95% confidence interval (95%CI ,75±7) 68-82. The risk was more among females ( 77%) compared to males (73%). There was significant positive correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI), WC with lipid parameters and BP. There was statistically significant difference between mean values of HDL (0.001), TG (0.001), AI (0.001), WC (0.02), BMI (0.01) between those with and without risk factors.

Interpretation & conclusion: High Prevalence of cardio vascular risk factors in these young medical students draws attention to the need of initiating primary prevention programmes at the campus level.