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. 2021 Oct 26;73(1):94.
doi: 10.1186/s43044-021-00219-9.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care centre of eastern India: a pilot study

Somnath Mukhopadhay #  1 , Anindya Mukherjee #  2   3   4 , Dibbendhu Khanra  5 , Biaus Samanta  5 , Avik Karak  6 , Santanu Guha  6
Affiliations

Cardiovascular disease risk factors among undergraduate medical students in a tertiary care centre of eastern India: a pilot study

Somnath Mukhopadhay et al. Egypt Heart J. .

Abstract

Background: Handful studies report the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among medical students from India and none from the eastern part of the country.

Aim: To estimate the prevalence of risk factors of CVD and their correlation with CVD risk ratio among the MBBS students from eastern India.

Methods: 433 students were studied. International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form was used for assessment of physical activity and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to elicit psychological stress levels. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was calculated. Total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio was calculated as the CVD risk ratio.

Results: 39.3% were women and 68.6% of the subjects were in junior classes. 22.4% subjects had high PSS while 30% performed low physical activity. Tobacco and alcohol intake was prevalent in 29.3% and 21.0% respectively. High CVD risk ratio was found in 14.3%. Most risk factors were more prevalent among juniors except diabetes. Among the non-overweight and non-obese subjects there was a significant positive correlation between WHtR and CVD risk score (R = 0.33, p < 0.001). 82.7% of the variance in CVD risk ratio could be explained by WHtR, Body mass index, Triglycerides and Low-density lipoprotein (F(7, 425) = 296.085), of which LDL (β = 0.755) contributed the most.

Conclusions: High prevalence of different modifiable CVD risk factors revealed among the subjects in this study is concerning. WHtR appears promising as an independent early predictor of CVD risk in Indian population. A dedicated CVD risk assessment tool for the young population is necessary.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease risk; MBBS students; Waist-to-height ratio; Young population.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
CVD risk factor prevalence among male and female students
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Cardiovascular risk factor prevalence among junior students and senior students
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Association of the baseline parameters and CVD risk factors with CVD risk ratio
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlation between WHtR and CVD risk ratio stratified by overweight and obesity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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