Effect of lifestyle modification awareness program on cardiovascular risk profile in high school students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to define the cardiovascular risk profile in high school Egyptian students, to provide a lifestyle modification program, and assess its outcome, carried out in three schools with different socioeconomic backgrounds. An intervention design with pre–post-assessment was used to implement and evaluate the impact of lifestyle modification programs. The study sample consisted of 157 male adolescent students recruited through systematic random sampling. Data collection tools included a self-administered questionnaire, physical examination, investigations sheet, and questionnaires for nutritional, smoking, and exercise environmental awareness administered as pre- and post-tests. Investigations included ECG, fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and homocysteine. Three intervention programs were designed for students who proved to have cardiovascular risk factors. These were namely a nutritional program to avoid fast food for obese students, program to quit smoking for smoking students, and a program to encourage exercise for those not practicing exercise, and obese students. The program duration was 6 weeks, with a 6-week follow-up. The results showed that 10.2% of students were current smokers, and 58.0% were exposed to passive smoking from family members, 53.5% were exercising, and 13.0% were obese. Overall, 10.2% of the students were hypertensive (>120/80 mm Hg), 7.6% had elevated cholesterol, 8.9% had elevated triglycerides, 17.2% had abnormally low HDL, 3.8% had abnormally high LDL, and 27.7% had abnormally high homocysteine. Students' awareness scores showed statistically significant improvements at the post-test of nutrition (p=0.001), smoking (p=0.03), and exercise (p=0.003) programs. Statistically significant improvements were revealed in the levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, and BMI (p<0.001). To conclude, secondary school students in the present study had a number of cardiovascular risk factors. These were related to age, and parents' education. The intervention program was successful in improving students' knowledge scores, with associated improvements in the levels of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, and BMI. It is recommended to carry out regular periodic screening programs for cardiovascular risk factors at schools, with the application of the designed educational intervention programs on a wider scale, with more prolonged follow-up. The aim of this study was to define the cardiovascular risk profile in high school Egyptian students, to provide a lifestyle modification program, and assess its outcome, carried out in three schools with different socioeconomic backgrounds. An intervention design with pre–post-assessment was used to implement and evaluate the impact of lifestyle modification programs. The study sample consisted of 157 male adolescent students recruited through systematic random sampling. Data collection tools included a self-administered questionnaire, physical examination, investigations sheet, and questionnaires for nutritional, smoking, and exercise environmental awareness administered as pre- and post-tests. Investigations included ECG, fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and homocysteine. Three intervention programs were designed for students who proved to have cardiovascular risk factors. These were namely a nutritional program to avoid fast food for obese students, program to quit smoking for smoking students, and a program to encourage exercise for those not practicing exercise, and obese students. The program duration was 6 weeks, with a 6-week follow-up. The results showed that 10.2% of students were current smokers, and 58.0% were exposed to passive smoking from family members, 53.5% were exercising, and 13.0% were obese. Overall, 10.2% of the students were hypertensive (>120/80 mm Hg), 7.6% had elevated cholesterol, 8.9% had elevated triglycerides, 17.2% had abnormally low HDL, 3.8% had abnormally high LDL, and 27.7% had abnormally high homocysteine. Students' awareness scores showed statistically significant improvements at the post-test of nutrition (p=0.001), smoking (p=0.03), and exercise (p=0.003) programs. Statistically significant improvements were revealed in the levels of blood pressure, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, and BMI (p<0.001). To conclude, secondary school students in the present study had a number of cardiovascular risk factors. These were related to age, and parents' education. The intervention program was successful in improving students' knowledge scores, with associated improvements in the levels of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides, and BMI. It is recommended to carry out regular periodic screening programs for cardiovascular risk factors at schools, with the application of the designed educational intervention programs on a wider scale, with more prolonged follow-up.