Comparison Between Blood Lipids And CVD Health Risk Appraisals In College-Age Students

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examined the prevalence of CVD risk factors in college-age students compared to their CVD health risk appraisal (HRA) score. METHODS: Subjects were 257 females and 208 males with a mean age of 21.1 ± 2.1 yr. and 21.6 ± 2.3 yr., a BMI of 23.9 ± 4.6 and 25.7 ± 4.0, and a body fat of 27.9 ± 8.9% and 17.9 ± 8.5%, respectively. All testing was completed during a single session. Height and weight were measured and used to calculate body mass index (BMI) and blood lipids obtained following a 12 hour fast. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results by sex for HDL, LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, diastolic and systolic blood pressure. RESULTS: The averages for HDL were 64.3 ± 17.6 and 51.2 ± 3.6 mg/dL, LDL 78.5 ± 26.7 and 77.5 ± 31.0 mg/dL for females and males, respectively. The average for total cholesterol were 163.6 ± 33.8 and 148.8 ± 31.3 mg/dL and triglycerides were 108.9 ± 54.8 and 111.6 ± 115.8 mg/dL for females and males, respectively. The average for blood glucose was 89.5 ± 15.9 and 90.6 ± 12.3 mg/dL for females and males, respectively. The average for diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure was 64.7 ± 14.8 and 70.2 ± 12.2 mm Hg and 103.9 ± 20.3 and 114.7 ± 17.7 mm Hg for females and males, respectively. While most of the subjects were in the “desirable” cut point range, there was a prevalence of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome risk. When compared to the HRA data scores, the majority of the low risk scores had desirable levels for total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and body mass index. In terms of HDL, the low risk HRA group was almost evenly split between optimal levels and suboptimal levels. Results demonstrate HRA in college students provide a very good prediction of their assessment of cardiovascular disease. HRA scores aligned closely with their biomedical data. While only 2.1% of the students would be classified with metabolic syndrome, 41% of college age students have one or more risk factors for metabolic syndrome with one subject having 5 risk factors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that implementation of a HRA could help health care providers identify and screen for CVD risk factors earlier and education and awareness of CVD risk factors is needed in college age students.