Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among the Sharif University of Technology students

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among the Sharif University of Technologystudents. Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a leading cause of mortality and disability in Iran and obesity is considered as one of the main causes. The primary prevention is a solution for prevention of this disease، especially from an early age. The studies regarding prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors are limited and unavailable in the university students especially in engineering students. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 223 Sharif University of Technology students (150 male، mean age 20. 33؛ and 73 female، mean age 20. 36). Data were collected by using questionnaire، blood analysis and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 19. 29% (male: 22. 66%، female12. 33%) and central obesity based on waist circumference index was 21. 97% (male: 18%، female: 30. 14%). Also، 60. 09% of subjects were inactive and 43. 5% had low HDL-C. High triglyceride levels and hypertension were observed in subjects (12. 21% and 14. 8%، respectively). There were at least two cardiovascular risk factors in 87% of subjects. There were positive correlations of body mass index with systolic blood pressure (r =0. 224، P=0. 0005) and triglyceride (r=0. 147، P=0. 014); and negative correlation between body mass index and HDL-C (r=-0. 189، P=0. 002). The results showed that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is high among the students; therefore، it is necessary to provide an appropriate evaluation and solution for prevention and health promotion.