University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM), Pavillon S, Bloc S03.706, 850 Saint-Denis street, Montreal, QC, H2X 0A9, Canada.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Kikwit, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
J Community Health. 2018 Aug;43(4):761-767. doi: 10.1007/s10900-018-0481-5.
A recent qualitative study on health promotion in non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan University students suggested sex differences in knowledge and beliefs concerning a healthy lifestyle. However, the extent to which this is reflected in sex-specific distribution of cardiovascular risk factors among Sub-Saharan African students have not been fully evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and the sex-specific distribution of some modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among students at University of Kikwit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This cross-sectional descriptive study included 780 students (62.2% men) at the University of Kikwit between January and March of 2016. Data on physical measurements, lifestyle factors, and medical history were collected. The median age (interquartile range) of the students was 23 years (21-25 years). The modifiable cardiovascular risk factors identified were: alcohol consumption (53.1%), overweight (16.4%), general obesity (1.9%), abdominal obesity (10.4%), tobacco consumption (8.1%), hypertension (7.6%) and high pulse pressure (6.4%). Compared to women, men had a higher prevalence of hypertension (9.9 vs. 3.7%; p = 0.002), tobacco consumption (10.7 vs. 3.7%; p = 0.001), and alcohol consumption (58.4 vs. 44.4%; p < 0.001). In contrast, abdominal obesity was more predominant in women than in men (23.1 vs. 2.7%; p < 0.001). This study suggests a sex-specific distribution of several modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in students at the University of Kikwit. Design of sex-specific, student-targeted health promotion programs may be warranted to reduce the prevalence of risk factors and the subsequent burden of cardiovascular diseases.
最近一项关于撒哈拉以南大学生非传染性疾病健康促进的定性研究表明，健康生活方式的知识和信念存在性别差异。然而，这种差异在多大程度上反映在撒哈拉以南非洲学生心血管风险因素的性别分布上，尚未得到充分评估。本研究旨在评估刚果民主共和国基奎特大学学生中一些可改变的心血管风险因素的流行程度和性别分布。这是一项横断面描述性研究，共纳入了 2016 年 1 月至 3 月期间基奎特大学的 780 名学生（62.2%为男性）。收集了身体测量、生活方式因素和病史数据。学生的中位年龄（四分位间距）为 23 岁（21-25 岁）。确定的可改变心血管风险因素包括：饮酒（53.1%）、超重（16.4%）、普通肥胖（1.9%）、腹部肥胖（10.4%）、吸烟（8.1%）、高血压（7.6%）和高脉压（6.4%）。与女性相比，男性高血压患病率更高（9.9%比 3.7%；p=0.002）、吸烟（10.7%比 3.7%；p=0.001）和饮酒（58.4%比 44.4%；p<0.001）。相反，腹部肥胖在女性中更为普遍（23.1%比 2.7%；p<0.001）。本研究表明，基奎特大学学生存在多种可改变的心血管风险因素的性别分布。可能需要制定针对特定性别的、以学生为目标的健康促进计划，以降低风险因素的流行率和随后的心血管疾病负担。
