Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease among Medical Students in Almaarefa Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Journal Title: The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 70, Issue 7
Abstract
<strong>Background:</strong> Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent an escalating worldwide public health problem. Providing consistent data on the magnitude and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among young population will help in controlling the risks and avoiding their consequences. <strong>Objective:</strong> The objective was to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) among medical students during their clinical clerkship (4th-6th years). <strong>Methods:</strong> A cross-sectional study was done during the educational year 2016-2017 at Almaarefa Colleges. Ethical standards were follow and a multistage stratified random sample method was used for selection of 214 medical students. Data was collected through an interviewing questionnaire, measurements and laboratory investigations. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were done by SPSS version 21. Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk percent in thirty years was calculated using Framingham algorithm for each student, then the risk among all students was determined. <strong>Results:</strong> The commonest risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHDs) were daily intake of high fat diet (73.4%), physical inactivity (57.9%), overweight/or obesity (31.2%) and daily consumption of fast food (13.1%). Hypercholesterolemia (17.2%) and hypertension (9.3%) were also prevalent risk factors. Smoking prevalence was low (2.8%). Males had significantly higher mean scores for most of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors compared to females (p < 0.05). Systolic Blood Pressure was higher among males (119.47 ± 11.17) compared to females (112.26 ± 9.06). A highly statistical significant difference was present (Students test = 4.74, p < 0.001). Framingham Risk Score revealed that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk percent in thirty years among all students was 10.7%, 2.3% and 0.5% for mild, moderate and severe risk, respectively. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> An alarmingly high prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors was prevailed among medical students, especially among males. However, a low prevalence of smoking may indicate the success of “Smoke-free Campus” program. Screening risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) among medical students and implementation of intervention programs are recommended. Programs to raise awareness about coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, encourage young adult students to adopt a healthy dietary behavior and promote physical exercise should be initiated.
Authors and Affiliations
Eman Helal
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP583634
- DOI 10.12816/0044546
- Views 128
- Downloads 0
Role of Medical Imaging in Cases of Stress Urinary Incontinence
<strong>Background:</strong> traditional methods for evaluation of women with urinary incontinence include urodynamic studies with measuring the pressure in the abdomen, the bladder, and the urethra and urine flow analys...
The Role of Diffusion Weighted MR Imaging in Assessment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Radiofrequency Ablation
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy. Surgical resection and local ablative therapies represent the most frequent first lines therapies adopted when liver transplantation cannot be o...
Effect of Sildenafil Citrate on the Outcome of in vitro Fertilization after Multiple IVF Failures Attributed to Poor Endometrial Development: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Aim of the work: this study aimed to evaluate the effect of sildenafil citrate on endometrial development in women with history of recurrent implantation failure after IVF. Setting: This study was conducted in obstetrics...
Recent Dynamic Ovarian Reserve Modalities
<strong>Background:</strong> the pool of primordial follicles in the ovary or ovarian reserve is a major factor in the human fertility potential. The ageing ovary is characterized by reduction of the number of primordial...
Fear of falls among nursing homes residents and community dwelling elderly
Background: fear of falling is common among elderly faller and it has been associated with impaired mobility and decreased functional status. As a result, older adults who have fallen are at greater risk of becoming inst...