Cardiovascular disease risk and its behavioural correlates among university students in Punjab, India: a...

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are increasingly affecting young adults globally, particularly in developing countries where lifestyle transitions during early adulthood contribute to the early accumulation of CVD risk factors. Identifying these risks at a younger age provides an opportunity to prevent irreversible disease. This study aimed to identify CVD risk and its associated factors among university students in Punjab, India, using a validated non-laboratory-based risk assessment tool.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2025 among university students in Punjab, India, using purposive sampling. CVD risk was assessed using the non-laboratory-based Health Metrics Risk Score (HMRS) questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.

Among the 420 participants, 282 (67.1%; 95% CI 62.4% to 71.6%) were classified as having low CVD risk, while 138 (32.9%; 95% CI 28.4% to 37.6%) had moderate/high CVD risk. Common risk-related behaviours included physical inactivity (35.0%), frequent consumption of deep-fried/fast foods (46.4%), daily consumption of salty foods (30.5%), overweight/obesity (20.0%) and exposure to secondhand smoke (12.9%). In multivariable analysis, living with friends (adjusted OR (AOR)=3.12, 95% CI 1.28 to 7.57), smoking (AOR=9.86, 95% CI 1.13 to 86.14), secondhand smoke exposure (AOR=3.70, 95% CI 1.67 to 8.18), alcohol/hazardous alcohol use (AOR=2.84, 95% CI 1.14 to 7.04), frequent consumption of deep-fried/fast foods (AOR=2.05, 95% CI 1.20 to 3.49), daily fruit consumption (AOR=3.55, 95% CI 1.73 to 7.29), higher meat/poultry intake (AOR=6.93, 95% CI 3.85 to 12.49) and physical activity (AOR=5.64, 95% CI 2.92 to 10.86) were associated with increased odds of moderate/high CVD risk. Daily vegetable consumption was associated with reduced odds of moderate/high CVD risk (AOR=0.27, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.59). Conclusion: Nearly one-third of young adults carried moderate-to-high CVD risk, emphasising the urgent need for early, targeted preventive interventions addressing lifestyle and mental health.