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Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease among Medical Students in Almaarefa Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Last updated: 24 Dec 2024

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Abstract

Background: Nowadays, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent an escalating worldwide public health problem. Providing consistent data on the magnitude and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among young population will help in controlling the risks and avoiding their consequences. Objective: The objective was to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) among medical students during their clinical clerkship (4th-6th years). Methods: A cross-sectional study was done during the educational year 2016-2017 at Almaarefa Colleges. Ethical standards were follow and a multistage stratified random sample method was used for selection of 214 medical students. Data was collected through an interviewing questionnaire, measurements and laboratory investigations. Both descriptive and analytical statistics were done by SPSS version 21. Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk percent in thirty years was calculated using Framingham algorithm for each student, then the risk among all students was determined. Results: The commonest risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHDs) were daily intake of high fat diet (73.4%), physical inactivity (57.9%), overweight/or obesity (31.2%) and daily consumption of fast food (13.1%). Hypercholesterolemia (17.2%) and hypertension (9.3%) were also prevalent risk factors. Smoking prevalence was low (2.8%). Males had significantly higher mean scores for most of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors compared to females (p < 0.05). Systolic Blood Pressure was higher among males (119.47 ± 11.17) compared to females (112.26 ± 9.06). A highly statistical significant difference was present (Students test = 4.74, p < 0.001). Framingham Risk Score revealed that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk percent in thirty years among all students was 10.7%, 2.3% and 0.5% for mild, moderate and severe risk, respectively. Conclusion: An alarmingly high prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors was prevailed among medical students, especially among males. However, a low prevalence of smoking may indicate the success of “Smoke-free Campus" program. Screening risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) among medical students and implementation of intervention programs are recommended. Programs to raise awareness about coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, encourage young adult students to adopt a healthy dietary behavior and promote physical exercise should be initiated.    

DOI

10.12816/0044546

Keywords

risk factors, coronary heart diseases, young adults, Framingham risk score

Volume

70

Article Issue

7

Related Issue

2081

Issue Date

2018-01-01

Receive Date

2018-08-10

Publish Date

2018-01-01

Page Start

1,174

Page End

1,184

Print ISSN

1687-2002

Online ISSN

2090-7125

Link

https://ejhm.journals.ekb.eg/article_10680.html

Detail API

https://ejhm.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=10680

Order

18

Type

Original Article

Type Code

606

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine

Publication Link

https://ejhm.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

Risk Factors of Coronary Heart Disease among Medical Students in Almaarefa Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023