CARDIOMETABOLIC HEALTH RISKS AMONG UNIVERSITYGOING STUDENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY FROM LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia are three conditions that are progressively affecting people's health, including university students. University students around the globe are affected by prevalent health issues like hypertension, hyperglycemia, and obesity. A number of variables, such as poor nutrition, inactivity, stress, and genetic predisposition, can put university students and other young people at risk for having these health issues. Method: Data was collected from students (n=150) in Riphah International University in Pakistan  2023 which was conducted on the subjects with the age of 18-25 years old to determine the frequency of hypertension, hyperglycemia and obesity in students and their risk factor. Blood pressure, sugar level, height and weight of students was also measured to calculate body mass index (BMI) In addition, we were using questionnaire. Objective: To determine frequency of hypertension, obesity and hyperglycemia in university going students. Result: Total 150 university going student was analyzed out of those students 53 (35.3%) were males and 97(64.7%) are females. Over all 75% of under study students were having normal BP and only 24.7% were hypertensive. About 93.3% of under study students were having normal blood sugar and only 6.7% were pre-diabetic. Also there is significant association between hyperglycemia and cold drinks (p=0.05), hypertension and obesity (p=0.000) and hypertension and gender (p=0.006) as hypertension frequently observe in male students. About of the total study subjects only 13 reported smoking which shows that there is no significant association between tobacco usage and gender(p=0.68), It may be because of a very small amount (only 13) participant reported tobacco usage. Conclusion: This study creates a strong association between hypertension and obesity and gender (male) among university students and demonstrated that hyperglycemia and common use of cold beverages illustrate the harmful nature of unhealthy eating behaviors. Such results emphasize the necessity to adopt specific health and wellness policy by universities that stimulates the development of active lifestyle, nutrition education, and preventive screening programs to reduce the increasing risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases among young adults.

Keywords: Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, Body Mass Index (BMI), Obesity, Cardiometabolic risk.