Gender differences in the distribution of cardio - vascular risk factors among school children

ABSTRACT

The occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood is predicted by factors in childhood and the prevention of the development of these cardiovascular risk factors in childhood is easier than the attempt to reverse the situation in adulthood. Information about these risk factors is scarce in Saudi Arabia. In addition, their distribution among male and female students is not clarified yet. To identify the difference in the distribution of cardiovascular disease risk factors among male and female school children of various ages and to discuss the potentials for future intervention. This study was conducted in the city of Jeddah during the year of 1997. A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique with proportional allocation was used to obtain 4850 students [3443 males and 1407 females] from 51 schools in the three levels of education [primary, intermediate, and secondary]. For all students an interview was conducted, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were obtained, and for a random sub-sample of 30% of students fasting glucose and total cholesterol on a capillary blood sample were measured. Smoking habit was identified for secondary school students. Medical students of King Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah were recruited to collect the data of the study. Males constituted 71% [3443 students] while females constituted 29% [1407 students]. For males, the mean age was 14.9 +/- 2.5 years and it was 15.3 +/- 2.4 for females. Body Mass Index and skin Fold Thickness for female students were greater than those for male students. This was true for all ages with minor exceptions at the ages of 17 and 18 years. Among males, the obese students constituted 23.5%, while obese females were 26.8% and the difference in obesity was statistically significant [p<0.05]. In addition, 5.8% of all students were found to have systolic hypertension and that 8.5% had diastolic hypertension. Males had higher systolic hypertension than females and the difference was statistically significant [p < 0.01]. However, the difference in diastolic blood pressure was not significant. More males [70.6%] performed regular physical exercise than females [25.3%], and the difference was statistically significant [p<0.01]. The blood cholesterol for male students was found to be statistically significantly lower than that for females [p < 0.01] and the proportion of female students with hypercholesterolemia [4.3%] was double that for male students [2.1%] and the difference between these proportions was statistically significant [p<0.05]. Hyperglycemia among students - both males and females was only 0.4% and the difference between males and females was not significant Finally. The proportion of smokers [current and ex-smokers] among males [7.2% and 8.7%] were statistically significantly greater than these proportions among females [0.3 and 0.5] [p < 0.01]. Since attitudes and behaviors that influence future health are established during childhood, intervention to prevent cardiovascular diseases should take place in childhood to reduce risk factors. Schools should have a great role to play in the promotion of good health. Differences in the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors among male and female students should be taken in consideration when designing health promotion programs