Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE STUDENTS

Danladi Chiroma Husaini*, Diomar Salazar, Roberta Thimbriel, Innocent Ejiofor Nwachukwu and Augustine 'Dele Domingo

Abstract

Abstract: Presently there is no known reported data on cardiovascular disease risks assessment in college students in Belize. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality the world over. In Belize, hypertension and diabetes mellitus type two are the major metabolic disorders and among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Although the prevalence of these disorders have been reported in the wider population, no known comprehensive study exist among college students in Belize. Objective: To assess risk factors associated with developing cardiovascular diseases among college students with the aim of providing a pilot baseline data for use in planning a much larger scale study to address issues of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders among college population in Belize. Participants: Thirty-eight (38) registered undergraduate university of Belize students ages 17 – 30 volunteered for the study. Methods: Standardized protocols and procedures were used to obtain and analyze blood pressures, anthropometrics and blood chemistries among the students. Results: The mean for all observed results were: age 20.61 (± 3.5); BMI 23.4 (± 4.15); Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), 116.74 mmHg. 39.47% had SBP ≥ 120mmHg. Mean biochemical studies showed: Total Cholesterol (TC) 140.89mg/dL; Triglycerides (TAG) levels for males (175.85mg/dL) were higher compared with female participants (83.17mg/dL). 13.16% had TAG above 150mg/dL while mean GLU values were observed to be 91.85mg/dL. 64% of students had family history of CVD’s; 63.16% reported eating healthy diets; 76.32% engaged in physical activity; 73.68% do not engage in harmful alcohol consumption while none (0%) of the students reported smoking cigarettes. Conclusions: Although some of the individuals investigated in this study had one or more risk of developing cardiovascular disease, generally majority of the students showed a low risk for the disease.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, triglycerides, glucose, BMI, cholesterol, Belize.