Study of cardiovascular disease risk factors among rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

ABSTRACT

We undertook an epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 793 rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia to assess the prevalence of certain cardiovascular disease risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension [11.2%], hypercholesterolaemia [2.9%], hypertriglyceridaemia [1.0%], high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [0.6%] and obesity [4.0%] showed no statistically significant difference based on sex. However, smoking [4%] showed a significant gender difference [boys 7.3%; girls 1.2%]. The relatively low cardiovascular disease risk factor profile of Tunisian children needs to be encouraged through to adulthood. Thus a school programme of heart health promotion should be established