Cardiovascular Risk Behavior among Students of a Medical College in Delhi
Insights
Many medical students exhibit unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including poor diet and low physical activity, increasing their cardiovascular disease risk. Interventions are needed to promote healthier habits among future physicians.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Medical Education
Background:
- Lifestyle-related behavioral risk factors significantly contribute to the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- Researching these risk behaviors among medical students is crucial due to their future roles as physicians and public health role models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk behaviors among undergraduate medical students in Delhi, India.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in Delhi.
- Self-administered questionnaires collected data on demographics and CVD risk behaviors.
- Binary logistic regression analysis identified associations between risk behaviors and covariates.
Main Results:
- Only 12% of students met fruit and vegetable intake recommendations.
- 23.7% consumed carbonated soft drinks daily, and 32.0% frequently ate fast food.
- Alcohol consumption was reported by 28.8%, tobacco use by 7%, and 42.6% had low physical activity levels.
Conclusions:
- Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors are prevalent among medical students and may worsen during their studies.
- Developing targeted strategies to address these risk behaviors is essential for promoting healthy lifestyles in medical students.
Background:
Life style related behavioural risk factors are mainly implicated for increased burden of cardio- vascular diseases. Research related to these risk behaviours especially among medical students is essential, considering their role as future physicians and role models in public health intervention programmes.
Objective:
To evaluate the burden of cardiovascular risk behaviours among students of a medical college of Delhi, India.
Materials And Methods:
A cross sectional study was carried out among undergraduate medical students of a medical college in Delhi. Self administered questionnaire was used to collect information on identification data and risk behaviours in relation to cardiovascular diseases. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to calculate adjusted odds ratio to assess association between risk behaviours and covariates.
Results:
The minimum recommendation of taking at least five servings per day of fruits and vegetables was complied only by 12% of students. Consumption of carbonated soft drinks either once or more on daily basis was present in 23.7% students and 32.0% reported frequent consumption of fast foods in past week. Consumption of alcohol was present in 28.8% students but only small proportion of students (7%) was current tobacco users. Large proportions of students (42.6%) were either not carrying out or were involved in only occasional physical activity in past week.
Conclusions:
Unhealthy behavioural practises are present and may progress as student advance through medical college. Developing strategies targeting at these risk behaviours and determining factors is necessary to promote healthy life style among medical students.
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