Atherosclerotic risk factors in female students of northwestern Greece

The prevalence of predisposing atherosclerotic factors such as obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking and consumption of animal fat in a cohort of all female students in the last class of high schools in Northwestern Greece was studied. A total of 590 students were included in the study. In all subjects body weight and height, SBP and DBP (in sitting position), total cholesterol and triglycerides (after 14 hours of fasting) were measured. Smoking and dietary habits were examined by a questionnaire. The results showed that 41.57% of the students were obese (Quetelet index > 22), 3.12% were considered as hypertensives (SBP > 140 mmHg and/or DBP > 90 mmHg), 14.19% had hypercholesterolaemia (total cholesterol > 5.439 mmol/l (210 mg/dl), 95th percentile in Greece), 4.7% had hypertriglyceridaemia (total triglycerides > 1.423 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) 95th percentile in Greece). Moreover, 22% consumed meat and 24% ate eggs at least four times per week. Only 13% of these students smoked habitually or occasionally. In conclusion, the prevalence of hyperlipidaemia and obesity in our cohort is significantly high and is correlated with nutritional factors. The detection of predisposing atherosclerotic factors in adolescents is of primary importance for early prevention of vascular damage.