Assessment of awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors amongst first year medical students

Abstract

Background: There are several risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases, such as age, gender and ethnicity. Positive family history being overweight and obese is also additional risk factors. Other, life style factor that contribute to hyper tension are smoking, stress cell phone use and physical inactivity, consumption of alcohol, increase salt intake reduce potassium intake. The objective of the study was to assess the awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors amongst first-year medical students.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 136 first-year medical students of MIMSR Medical College, Latur, Maharashtra during the period of December 2017 to May 2018. A self-administered, pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to obtain information about awareness of cardiovascular diseases risk factors including diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol habits from the study subjects.Results: The study subjects were 136 first-year medical students belonging to 18–23 years age group. There was good awareness about high fat food, high sugar intake, smoking and alcohol consumption as cardiovascular diseases risk factors.Conclusions: There is good awareness about cardiovascular diseases risk factors among first-year medical students.