Abstract
Smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, raised blood pressure, low dietary intake of vegetables and fruits have been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The study was aimed to find out the extent of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among adolescent schoolchildren from affluent families of Dhaka city. This cross sectional study was done among 386 students of two English medium high schools during July 2006 to June 2007. Sixty one percent of the sample was boys. The children were of 10-18 years age group (mean=13.5 years). Half of the parents had postgraduate education, fathers mostly businessmen and service holders and mothers were housewives. Moderate physical inactivity at leisure was found among 51% of the study population. Association between moderate physical activity (MPA) at leisure and gender was statistically significant (p <0.001). Furthermore, 34% of the children spent 3 hours or more watching TV and /or using computer in a day. A little over 16% of the children were overweight and 8.5% obese. ‘Ever smoked’ were 16.5% males and 4.0% females. Association between ever smoked and gender was statistically significant (p <0.001). Moreover, 51% children took fruits and 69% took vegetables daily in their diet. Association between intake of fruits and vegetables and gender was not significant. Considering the high level of cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents, in terms of inactivity, overweight, obesity and smoking, population-wide life-style interventions specially focused on adolescents are thus recommended.
Highlights
Over the past two centuries, the industrial and technological revolutions and their associated economic and social transformations have resulted in dramatic shifts in the diseases responsible for illness and death. 1 Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are assuming increasing importance among the adult population in both developed and developing countries including Bangladesh
Alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, raised blood pressure, dietary fats or blood lipids and blood glucose have been identified as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases
Risk factors for Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), when detected in school children are predictive of coronary disease
Summary
Over the past two centuries, the industrial and technological revolutions and their associated economic and social transformations have resulted in dramatic shifts in the diseases responsible for illness and death. 1 Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are assuming increasing importance among the adult population in both developed and developing countries including Bangladesh. There is strong evidence that smoking, blood pressure and cholesterol are the cause of at least two thirds of heart attacks and strokes.[3] Risk factors for CVDs, when detected in school children are predictive of coronary disease. The possibility of preventing the “appearance” of risk factors makes it possible to halt the emergence of CVDs. It is evident that atherosclerotic and hypertensive processes start in childhood.[4] Prospective and retrospective studies have shown that CVD risk factors including obesity, the lipid profile, unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyle, have their roots in childhood and tend to track into adulthood.[5,6,7,8] Early identification and intervention of variables related to CVD in children are essential for minimizing the risk of developing the disease in later life.[9] Adolescents are 22% of total population.[10] Adolescents, from the affluent section of the society, are following western life-styles. Over the last few decades Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh has been experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization
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