SHA 39. Selected risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among adolescent in Ahad Rufeda southwestern region

Abstract

Objectives: To study the selected cardiovascular disease risk factor among adolescent school boys in Ahad Rufeda, southwestern, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of students covering 1249 from six secondary schools in Ahad Rufeda Region. the sample of six school was selected using proportional allocation to the of school (governmental or private) and geographical location (urban or rural) during March 2008. Two or three classes from each educational level were randomly chosen in the selected schools. The structured questionnaire was which was used to collect the data was the Arabic version of CDC adolescent health survey, validated and adopted in a previous study in Abha, having information on socio-demographic condition, family history of cardiovascular diseases, smoking habits, behaviors related to physical activity, food choices, as well as, direct measurement of weight, height, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Waist and height measurement ; were taken to calculate the body mass index (BMI). BMI was classified into four categories: normal (BMI < 25) pre-obese (BMI 25 6 40) obese grade III (+40). Waist circumference was measured at the point of the trunk located midway between the lower costal margin (bottom of lower rib) and iliac crest (tap of pelvic bone) while the person was standing. It was measured to the nearest of the 0.5 cm, at the end of normal expiration. Standard techniques was used to measure the blood pressure. Two or more reading separated by at least 5 min were averaged. student having SBP (systolic blood pressure) over 130 or DBP (diastolic blood pressure) over 85 were considered as having high normal blood pressure. Results: Study shows that 23.4% of students has BMI above 25 and 14.1% has central obesity. About 21.5% of student had SBP over the normal while 19.7% had an increase in DPB – prevalence of smoking was eating found to 11.8% ; cigarette smoking account for 70.7% were 23.1% were shisha smoker ; and 18.4% had experience of smokingothermaterials. About 50%of the studentwere eating healthy food;whilemore than40%were eating junkor fast food. The assessment of physical activity revealed that 25%of the student were not engaged in any type of exercise activity. Family history of hypertensionwas highest among the father with 21.9%aswell as for diabetes mellitus, father were higher 25.6%. Regarding family history of hyperlipidemia it was highest among the father with 33.7% Conclusion: The study has brought out clearly the prevalent risk factors of cardiovascular disease among the student. A general health awareness should be organized at the school level. Tracks: Adult Cardiology.