Study of cardiovascular disease risk factors among urban schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract

To assess the risk to Tunisian children of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), we undertook an epidemiological survey of 1569 urban schoolchildren from Sousse. Prevalence rates for the following CVD risk factors were determined: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and other lipid disorders, obesity and tobacco consumption. Hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia showed no statistically significant difference by sex. Hypercholesterolaemia, high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and obesity were all significantly higher for girls than boys. Smoking was significantly higher among boys. The relatively low CVD risk factor profile of Tunisian schoolchildren should be encouraged in adulthood and a school heart health programme should be established.