Screening Of Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Diseases Among School Going Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The main preventable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as poor dietary habits, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco and alcohol consumption and stress have their beginning in the adolescent age group. Present study was carried out to screen some risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among school going adolescents in an urban area. Methodology: A cross sectional survey was done among 871 adolescents aged 10 to 18 years during September 2014 to March 2015. Demographic information, dietary history and history of physical activity were collected. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured using standard technique. Percentage and 95% CI were used to summarize the results. Results: Among 871 adolescents 462 (53.05%) were male. Mean age + SD was 13.86 + 2.21 years. Majority of the adolescents 782 (89.78%) consumed inadequate amount of fruits and vegetables. The proportion of adolescents who consumed junk food more than three times a week was 24.34% (212). There were 413 (47.42%) study subjects who consumed added salt while having their meals. Thirty-seven (4.25%) consumed carbonated drinks more than 3 times a week. More than half 478 (54.88%) were not physically active. Most of them i.e. 734 (84.27%) spent three hours or more per day on sedentary activities. Proportion of overweight and obesity was 5.97%(52) and 2.87% (25). Proportion of pre-hypertension was 10.10% (88) and hypertension was 8.27% (72). Conclusion: High proportion of risk factors for cardiovascular disease is found among the school going adolescents in the urban area.

Detection and comparison of fetal malnutrition by CANSCORE and other methods.

Background: Objective of current study was clinical assessment of nutritional status of neonate using CANSCORE and comparison with other methods of determining fetal malnutrition. Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital. Study subjects: 384 live born singleton neonates with known gestational age and no major congenital malformation. Methods: Birth weight, length, midarm circumference and head circumference recorded in new-borns. Ponderal index and mid arm to head circumference ratio was calculated. Clinical assessment of nutritional status was done on the basis of CANSCORE and compared with other methods. Results: CANSCORE <25 separated 67.71% of the babies as well-nourished and 32.29% as malnourished. Weight for age and MAC/HC classified nearly 70% of babies as well-nourished and 30% as malnourished. Also Ponderal index classified 75.52% the babies as well-nourished and 24.48% as malnourished. Conclusion: CANSCORE may be a simple clinical index for identifying fetal malnutrition and for prediction of neonatal morbidity associated with it, without the aid of any sophisticated equipments.