Lipid profile and cardiovascular risk factors among first-year Brazilian university students in São Paulo.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended worldwide. The current study is aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among first-year students from a public university in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 56 first-year students, of both genders, was performed. Information about demographic characteristics, family history of chronic diseases, smoking, and physical activity was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Anthropometrical parameters (BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage), metabolic parameters (glycaemia, serum lipid profile), and dietary data (total energy intake, percentage of total energy from macronutrients, cholesterol and dietary fiber) were assessed. RESULTS: The risk of cardiovascular diseases was characterised by family history of cardiovascular diseases (44.6%), smoking (10.7%), physical inactivity (35.7%), borderline high total cholesterol and LDL-c levels (16.1% and 5.4, respectively), decreased HDL-c levels (8.9%), increased triglyceride levels (8.9%), and overweight and obesity (17.8% and 7.1%, respectively). The diet of the students was inadequate: it was high in fat and protein, and low in carbohydrate and dietary fibre. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in young adults draws attention to the need to adopt preventive plans in the university setting.

Lipid profile and cardiovascular risk factors among first-year Brazilian university students in São Paulo / Perfil lipídico y factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes universitarios brasileños de primer año de Sao Paulo

Background/aims: The surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended world wide. The current study is aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among first-year students from a public university in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 56 first-year students, of both genders, was performed. Information about demographic characteristics, family history of chronic diseases, smoking, and physical activity was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Anthropometrical parameters (BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage), metabolic parameters (glycaemia, serum lipid profile), and dietary data (total energy intake, percentage of total energy from macronutrients, cholesterol and dietary fiber) were assessed. Results: The risk of cardiovascular diseases was characterised by family history of cardiovascular diseases(44.6%), smoking (10.7%), physical inactivity (35.7%), borderline high total cholesterol and LDL-c levels (16.1%and 5.4, respectively), decreased HDL-c levels (8.9%), increased triglyceride levels (8.9%), and overweight and obesity (17.8% and 7.1%, respectively). The diet of the students was inadequate: it was high in fat and protein, and low in carbohydrate and dietary fibre. Conclusions: The prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in young adults draws attention to the need to adopt preventive plans in the university setting

Antecendentes /objetivos: la vigilancia de los factores de riesgo se ha recomendado mundialmente. El presente estudio pretendía estimar la prevalencia de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes de primer año de una universidad pública de la ciudad de Sao Paulo, Brasil. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal de 56 estudiantes de primer año, de ambos sexos. Se obtuvo información a cerca de las características demográficas, antecedentes familiares de enfermedades crónicas, hábito de fumar y actividad física mediante un cuestionario estandarizado. Se evaluaron parámetros antropométricos (IMC, circunferencia de la cintura, porcentaje de grasa corporal) y bioquímicos (glucemia, perfil lipídico en suero). La información relativa a la ingestión de la dieta se evaluó mediante un registro de alimentación de tres días. Resultados: el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares se caracterizó por los antecedentes familiares de enfermedades cardiovasculares (44,6%), hábito tabáquico (10,7%), actividad física (35,7%), colesterol y concentración de LDL-c en el límite superior (16,1% y 5,4,respectivamente), disminución de las concentraciones de HDL-c (8,9%), aumento de las concentraciones de triglicéridos(8,9%) u sobrepeso y obesidad (17,8% y 7,1%,respectivamente). La dieta de los estudiantes fue inapropiada: su contenido era elevado en grasas y proteínas y bajo en hidratos de carbono y fibra de la dieta. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de factores de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares en adultos jóvenes reclama la atención hacia la necesidad de planes preventivos en el ámbito universitario (AU)

Accuracy of sagittal abdominal diameter as predictor of abdominal fat among Brazilian adults: a comparation with waist circumference.

AIM: We aim was to compare the sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) with waist circumference (WC) as a predictor of central obesity among adults and to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cut-off point for SAD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 266 Brazilians adults (euthrophic and overweight), aged 31-84 years old, of which 89 men and 177 women, was carried out. Anthropometric measurements such as SAD, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, waist and hip ratio, body mass index, body fat percentage were performed. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cut off point for SAD as a predictor of central obesity. Statistical analysis were considered significant with a value of p < 0.05. RESULTS: The SAD measurement was positively correlated with WC for both genders, although stronger among overweight and obesity women (r = 0.71; p < 0.001 and r = 0.79; p < 0.001, respectively) than men. ROC curves identified the best cut-off points for SAD of 23.1 cm and 20.1 cm for men and women (96% and 85% sensitivity, 86% and 84% specificity, respectively). CONCLUSION: SAD measurement may be used as an anthropometric tool to identify central obesity among women for presenting adequate sensitivity and specificity.

Accuracy of sagittal abdominal diameter as predictor of abdominal fat among Brazilian adults: a comparation with waist circumference / Precisión de diámetro abdominal sagital como predictor de la grasa abdominal en brasileños adultos: una comparación con la circunferencia de la cintura

Aim: We aim was to compare the sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) with waist circumference (WC) as a predictor of central obesity among adults and to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cut-off point for SAD. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 266 Brazilians adults (euthrophic and overweight), aged 31-84 years old, of which 89 men and 177 women, was carried out. Anthropometric measurements such as SAD, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, waist and hip ratio, body mass index, body fat percentage were performed. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to identify the sensitivity and specificity of the best cut off point for SAD as a predictor of central obesity. Statistical analysis were considered significant with a value of p < 0.05. Results: The SAD measurement was positively correlated with WC for both genders, although stronger among overweight and obesity women (r = 0.71; p < 0.001 and r = 0.79; p < 0.001, respectively) than men. ROC curves identified the best cut-off points for SAD of 23.1 cm and 20.1 cm for men and women (96% and 85% sensitivity, 86% and 84% specificity, respectively). Conclusion: SAD measurement may be used as an anthropometric tool to identify central obesity among women for presenting adequate sensitivity and specificity (AU)

Objetivo: Nuestro objetivo es comparar el diámetro abdominal sagital (DAS) con la circunferencia de la cintura (CC) como predictor de la obesidad central entre los adultos y para determinar la sensibilidad y la especificidad de la mejor punto de corte para el DAS. Métodos: Estudio transversal de 266 adultos brasileños (eutróficos y con sobrepeso), de entre 31-84 años de edad, de los cuales 89 hombres y 177 mujeres, se llevó a cabo. Las medidas antropométricas como la DAS, peso, talla, circunferencia de la cintura y cadera, relación cintura-cadera, índice de masa corporal, porcentaje de grasa corporal se llevaron a cabo. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curva se utilizó para determinar la sensibilidad y la especificidad del mejor punto de corte para el DAS como predictor de la obesidad central. El análisis estadístico se consideró significativo un valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: La medición del DAS se correlacionó positivamente con CC para ambos sexos, aunque más fuerte entre las mujeres con sobrepeso y obesidad (r = 0,71, p < 0,001, r = 0,79, p < 0,001, respectivamente) que los hombres. De curvas ROC identificado las mejores puntos de corte para el DAS de 23.1 cm y 20.1 cm para los hombres y mujeres (96% y el 85% de sensibilidad, 86% y el 84% de especificidad, respectivamente). Conclusión: La medición DAS puede ser utilizada como una herramienta antropométrica para identificar la obesidad central entre las mujeres para la presentación de la sensibilidad y especificidad adecuadas (AU)