Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a Portuguese university population

To characterize the distribution of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among university students, through calculating the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, overweight, and sedentarism, as well as nutrient intake.

Cross-sectional study in a random stratified sample of 378 students from Aveiro University in the 2005/2006 academic year. Lifestyle questionnaires were completed on dietary habits and physical activity. The following were assessed: anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lipids, glycemia and homocysteine. Homocysteine was measured in 32 (25.2%) males and 95 (74.8%) females.

A high prevalence of sedentarism was found (0.55, 95% CI: 0.50 to 0.60). The prevalence of overweight was 12.2% (0.122, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.16) and of obesity 3.2% (0.032, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.06). Hypercholesterolemia was found in 17.7% (0.177, 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.2) of the students and hypertension in 13.7% of males and 3.5% of females (p<0.001). High levels of homocysteine were found in 15.6% of males. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia among health sciences students was higher than in technical and natural sciences (20.2% vs. 13.7%). Human and social sciences was the area with the highest prevalence of risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (38.1%).

The high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs in higher education highlights the need for nutritional and health promotion programs, emphasizing the harmful effects of sedentary behavior. Longitudinal study of this cohort will enable analysis of the impact of such behavior in early life on subsequent development of health problems.