OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, awareness of their presence, and adherence to their correction among medical students in Russia.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A survey was conducted including 477 first- to sixth-year medical students in various Russian cities (Moscow, Samara, Novosibirsk, Surgut, Ulyanovsk, Kemerovo). Data on basic anthropometric parameters (body weight, height, and body mass index [BMI]), current smoking and alcohol consumption status, history of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension (AH), overweight or obesity, patient’s awareness of their own blood pressure (BP), total cholesterol (TC), average number of steps walked (according to fitness tracker) over the past week, adherence to diet control and physical activity, compliance to hypotensive therapy. At the end of the survey, all students had their systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) measured three times. The presence of a risk factor was established using survey results and office BP measurement. Statistical analysis of the study results was performed using Statistica 10.0 software (USA).
RESULTS
Among medical students, 84 (17.6%) smoked, 214 (44.9%) consumed alcohol, 47 (9.9%) had overweight or obesity, 145 (30.4%) had AH, and 1 (0.2%) had diabetes.The median body weight of the examined students was 59 (53—68) kg, height was 168 (163—175) cm, BMI was 20.9 (19.3—22.8) kg/m2. A total of 421 (88.3%) respondents were aware of their blood pressure level during the last year; 56 (11.7%) were aware of their TC level with a median of 4 (3.5—5.1) mmol/l; 299 (62.7%) respondents knew the average number of steps per week with a median of 8000 (5950—10 000). A total of 97 (20.3%) students were adherent to various ways of dietary modification, and 203 (42.6%) students took exercise; the median frequency was 2 (1—3) times a week. Eight (1.7%) subjects received hypotensive therapy as indicated. The medians of hemodynamic parameters were determined: measurement 1: SBP 117 (110—125) and DBP 74 (68—80) mmHg, heart rate 76 (70—83) beats per minute; measurement 2: SBP 115 (106—121) and DBP 72 (66—80) mmHg, heart rate 76 (70—84) beats per minute; measurement 3 SBP 113 (105—120) and DBP 71 (66—80) mmHg, heart rate 77 (70—84) beats per minute. The comparison of answers to survey questions given by students of different years showed the highest frequency of smoking (p=0.008), alcohol consumption (p=0.001), and overweight and obesity (p=0.001) in third-year students. The highest number of medical students taking exercises also was among third-year students (p=0.002), with the weekly frequency of exercise being higher for first-year students (p=0.004). The maximum number of students aware of their TC level was also in third-year students (p=0.001). The maximum values of the average number of steps per week were in the fourth-year students (p=0.016). Significant differences between students of different courses were found at measurement 1 of MBP (p=0.015) and DBP (p=0.005) levels, while subsequently, the differences in DBP were statistically significant at measurement 2 (p=0.001) and 3 (p=0.001).
CONCLUSION
Students pursuing medical specialization at Russian institutions of higher education are the population for whom extended preventive examinations, active awareness of primary prevention issues, and timely initiation of correction of cardiovascular risk factors are justified.
