Modifiable risk factors of noncommunicable diseases in urban adolescents of Girdhar Nagar, Ahmedabad: A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become a major health burden globally. The four main NCDs (heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancers and chronic respiratory diseases) share four modifiable risk factors Tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. To minimize the burden of NCD epidemic, main risk behaviors common among young people must be curbed. Measurement of NCD risk factors is necessary to plan out the interventions and would also serve as a stepping stone in achieving primordial prevention of NCDs. Objective: The objective of the study was to measure the modifiable risk factors of NCDs among school-going adolescents of urban Ahmedabad. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017 among two schools of Girdhar Nagar ward, Ahmedabad. 581 adolescents of a private and a government-run school, studying in class 8th–10th, of ages 12–16 were interviewed using GSBHS tool after taking informed consent. Appropriate anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken. Statistical analysis: Epi info ver. 7.0 and MS Excel 2007 used for analysis. Chi-square test, t-test, and multiple regression were applied. P < 5% was considered significant. Results: 52% (303) of the subject studied were boys and 48% (278) were girls. Among all, 66% (384) were physically inactive, 88% (511) were not consuming ≥5 servings of fruits and vegetables/day, 65% (376) and 78% (452) regularly consumed soft-drinks and fast food, respectively. 1.5% (9) of the subjects smoked and 3%(15) consumed smokeless form of tobacco. No student admitted consuming alcohol. 11% (65) were overweight and 13% (73) were obese. Raised systolic BP (>140 mmHg) was found in 3% (18) and raised diastolic BP (>90 mmHg) was found in 0.5% (3) of study subjects. Conclusion: One or more risk factors were found to be prevalent in all subjects. The presence of one or more modifiable risk factors in every adolescent point toward the dire need of school-based interventions for the prevention of NCDs in future adults.