BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG STUDENTS

Abstract

Aim. To study the prevalence of behavioral and psychosocial risk factors (RF) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among students aged 18 - 24 years. Materials and methods. The study used a questionnaire of epidemiological study ESSAY-Russian, adapted for students. In 2014 and 2015, random sample of students were interviewed in high schools of Barnaul (596 persons). Prevalences of smoking, low physical activity, non-healthy diet, stress and depression among students ware investigated. Results. Prevalence of smoking among students was 12,4%. Young men were 2.4 times more likely to smoke than women (p <0.001) and smoked more cigarettes per day. 72.3% of the students used alcohol, 3.6% of men and 1.0% of women used alcohol excessively. The number of women walking during 60 to 90 minutes per day was 3 times more than among boys (7.5 and 2.6%, p <0.05). Amount of walking time decreased with age. Evaluation of nutrition showed that 74.8% of students consumed insufficient amount of fish, 53% do not eat enough of fruits and vegetables, 45% consumed excessive table salt and 22% - sugar. Subclinical anxiety/depression had 21.5/9.6% of respondents, clinical anxiety/depression experienced 13.8/2.2% respectively. During the last 30 days the girls, compared with boys more likely to experience very high levels of stress (24.5 and 13%, p <0.001) and 1.5 times more than in a state of subclinical anxiety/depression (24.5 and 15, 3%; 15.8 and 9.7%, respectively; p <0.05). Conclusions: The estimation of the prevalence of behavioral and psychosocial risk factors of CVD is the basis for regional preventive programs among students.

Keywords

• cvd risk factors
• prevalence
• students