Bista Sita, Puri Bishow, Maharjan Sanju, Thapa Poshan, Bhandari Buna
Central Department of Public Health, Tribhuvan University Institute of Medicine, Kathmandu, Nepal.
School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
PLoS One. 2025 Sep 11;20(9):e0313943. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313943. eCollection 2025.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of global death and disability, affecting one-third of adult population. Often overlooked in school-going adolescents, behavioural risk factors are crucial contributors to CVD risk which begin early and accelerate during adolescent period. This study aims to assess the behavioural risk factors and their associated determinants among adolescents of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal.
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 361 adolescents aged 16-19 years studying in grade 11 and 12 from public and private schools. Schools were selected using a stratified proportionate sampling method. Data were collected through a self-administered, structured, and validated questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, behavioural risk factors of CVDs, and parental information. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to analyse the data.
The most prevalent behavioural risk factor was the consumption of calorie drinks (99%), followed by sedentary behaviour (60%), insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (57%), physical inactivity (35%), and consumption of processed food high in salt (33%). The prevalence of current smoking, alcohol consumption, and smokeless tobacco use was 12%, 10%, and 9% respectively. Key factors associated with the behavioural risk include maternal education, ethnicity, and education system. Parental tobacco and alcohol use were also associated with adolescent smoking and alcohol consumption.
The high prevalence of CVD risk factors among adolescents in Nepal highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions in both household and school settings. These interventions should aim to reduce behavioural risk factors to prevent the future burden of CVDs in resource-limited areas like Nepal.
心血管疾病（CVDs）是全球死亡和残疾的主要原因，影响着三分之一的成年人口。行为风险因素在上学的青少年中常常被忽视，却是心血管疾病风险的关键促成因素，这些因素在青少年时期早期就已出现并加速发展。本研究旨在评估尼泊尔图尔西布尔次都市青少年中的行为风险因素及其相关决定因素。
对361名年龄在16 - 19岁、就读于公立和私立学校11年级和12年级的青少年进行了一项基于学校的横断面研究。采用分层比例抽样方法选择学校。通过一份自我管理、结构化且经过验证的问卷收集数据，问卷涵盖社会人口学特征、心血管疾病的行为风险因素以及家长信息。使用描述性和分析性统计方法分析数据。
最普遍的行为风险因素是饮用高热量饮料（99%），其次是久坐行为（60%）、水果和蔬菜摄入量不足（57%）、身体活动不足（35%）以及食用高盐加工食品（33%）。当前吸烟、饮酒和使用无烟烟草的患病率分别为12%、10%和9%。与行为风险相关的关键因素包括母亲的教育程度、种族和教育体系。父母吸烟和饮酒也与青少年吸烟和饮酒有关。
尼泊尔青少年中心血管疾病风险因素的高患病率凸显了在家庭和学校环境中进行针对性干预的迫切需求。这些干预措施应旨在减少行为风险因素，以预防尼泊尔等资源有限地区未来心血管疾病的负担。
