Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Associated with Obesity in Young People

Aim. To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) associated with obesity in young people studying at a multidisciplinary university, as well as to analyze the awareness of students about the potential relationship between these RFs and cardiovascular diseases.
Material and methods. This cross-sectional study included in the final analysis 1158 students of the Moscow State University without known chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). Participants filled out a standard "Questionnaire for persons under 65 years of age to identify CNCDs, their RFs, and the use of non-prescribed narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances", which included a question to identify individuals with a high level of physical activity (PA), as well as an additional questionnaire with open-ended questions on RFs for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Results. The prevalence of obesity in young people studying at the multidisciplinary university was 5.0%, overweight 13.6%, and abdominal obesity (AO) 12.7%. Correlation analysis showed that the body mass index (BMI) had weak but significant relationships with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.434; p < 0.001), total cholesterol (r = 0.170; p < 0.001), and blood glucose (r = 0.185; p < 0.001). Young people with obesity consumed significantly less vegetables and fruits than those with normal BMI (p=0.032). There were more smokers among overweight and obese patients (p=0.019), probably due to an unhealthy behavior pattern in general. Unhealthy diet was named as a RF for CVD by ⅔ of the surveyed young people; more than ¾ were aware of the negative impact of low PA on the cardiovascular system. Obesity was named as a RF by less than 20% of the respondents regardless of gender. The awareness of students with obesity or overweight about obesity as a RF for CVD was generally higher than in the general group (p<0.001). However, only 41.3% of those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or more named obesity as a RF for CVD.
Conclusion. Understanding the prevalence of behavioral RFs for CVD, awareness of the related risks, and the need to maintain health among young people is critical for prevention of CVD. Interventions targeting university students should promote healthy eating behavior, increased PA, and weight control.

1. World Health Organization. Obesity and overweight. [Internet] Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesityand-overweight

2. Balanova Yu.A., Shalnova S.A., Deev A.D., Imaeva A.E., Kontsevaya A.V., Muromtseva G.A. et al. Obesity in Russian population – prevalence and association with the non-communicable diseases risk factors. Russian Journal of Cardiology. 2018;23(6):123–30. DOI: 10.15829/1560-4071-2018-6-123-130

3. Drapkina O.M., Drozdova L.Yu., Yakimova Yu.V., Egorov V.A., Rakovskaya Yu.S. Methodological guidelines ‘Standard operating procedure for preventive medical examination and medical examination of certain groups of the adult population’. M.: FSBI ‘NMIC TPM’ of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 2022. - 68p. Av. at: https://org.gnicpm.ru/wp-content/ uploads/2023/02/4.1-sop-po-provedeniyu-pmo.pdf.

4. Zimakova E.I., Plisyuk A.G., Begrambekova Yu.L., Rybakov D.A., Daudov I.Sh., Orlova Ya.A. Sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in young people: awareness, self-assessment and stress test results. Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention. 2024;23(6):42–9. DOI: 10.15829/1728-8800-2024-3992

5. Boytsov S.A., Pogosova N.V., Ansheles A.A., Badtieva V.A., Balakhonova T.V., Barbarash O.L. et al. Cardiovascular prevention 2022. Russian national guidelines. Russian Journal of Cardiology. 2023;28(5):119–249. DOI: 10.15829/1560-4071-2023-5452

6. Rubanenko A.O., Rubanenko O.A., Dyachkov V.A., Shchukin Yu.V., Ivanov K.M. Risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in students of Samara State Medical University on MMM-18 registry data. Science and Innovations in Medicine. 2021;6(1):50–3. DOI: 10.35693/2500-1388-2021-6-1-50-53

7. Martinchik A.N., Laikam K.E., Kozyreva N.A., Keshabyants E.E., Mikhailov N.A., Baturin A.K. et al. The prevalence of obesity in various socio-demographic groups of the population of Russia. Problems of Nutrition. 2021;90(3):67–76. DOI: 10.33029/0042-8833-2021-90-3-67-76

8. Yen H-Y, Li C. Associations between cardiometabolic risks and physical activity in early adulthood: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2021;11(9):e042668. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042668

9. Usanova A.A., Guranova N.N., Fazlova I.H., Kunyaeva T.A. Epidemiological aspects of awareness and prevalence of the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the students of Mordovian State University. Scientific Bulletin of Belgorod State University. Series: Medicine. Pharmacy. 2014;24(195):132–6.