Prevalence of cigarette smoking and khat chewing among Aden University medical students - Relationship to BP and body mass index

ABSTRACT

In this study we look at the smoking and khat chewing habits in male Aden University medical students and correlate this with blood pressure [BP], body mass index [BMI].and year of training. This is cross-sectional study involving 100 randomly selected male medical students. BP was meassured between 10 AM and 12 midday. Self completed questionnaire enquired about their year of training, height, weight, cigarette smoking and khat chewing habits. Using logistic regression analysis we investigated the correlation between BP and BMI, BP and age and BP and stage of training and to the smoking and khat chewing habits. In addition, we also compared the 5 yearly groups to each other in terms of BP, BMI and smoking and khat chewing habits [using the two-tailed independent t test for parametric variables and chi square for non-parametric variables]. Scores were given for the frequency of khat chewing The mean age of the whole group was 31.8 years. The mean BMI was 23.24 [rising from 22.6 [4.3] in the first year medical students to 24.7 [4.4] in 5[th] year medical students [p = 0.127].The mean weight rose from 65.9 [13] Kgs to 74.7 Kgs [15] [p-0.034]. The mean SBP, DBP, and MBP were 120.35, 70.47 and 87.1 mmHg respectively and did not change over the years of training 27% were smokers and 54% chewed khat. Prevalence of smoking rose 20% to 40% and khat chewing from 35% to 90% [p = 0.0003] over the 5 years of training. There was a slight positive correlation between age with weight, BMI and frequency of Khat chewing. There was also a slight positive correlation between BMI with SBP and MBP.We found high prevalence of smoking and khat chewing among the medical students at Aden University and their prevalences increase with student seniority with no significant changes in BMI, SBP, DBF or MBP. There was a slight positive correlation between BMI with SBP, MBP and frequency of Khat chewing