Epidemiology of cardiovascular risk factors among schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia.

BACKGROUND: In Tunisia, where the epidemiological transition phenomenon is well established, there are no data available at the population level on the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile for children, although it is well known that risk factor development takes place in childhood. METHODS: We report an epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 1569 urban schoolchildren of Sousse in Tunisia to assess the following CVD risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and other lipid disorders, obesity and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: The main results showed that girls had significantly higher levels of body mass index (BMI), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol than boys, who however had significantly higher levels of systolic blood pressure (SBP). Total cholesterol was significantly correlated to BMI and decreased with age. Obesity (BMI = 27) was found in 7.9% of the study population and was significantly higher for girls (9.7%) than for boys (6%): chi 2 = 9.02, DF = 2, P = 0.011. Overweight (BMI = 25) was also significantly higher for girls (16%) than for boys (11.1%): chi 2 = 8.21, DF = 1, P = 0.0041. Smoking habit concerned 7.6% of the study population; it was significantly higher for boys (14.7%) than for girls (1.1%): chi 2 = 103.4, DF = 1, P < 0.00001. CONCLUSION: This study showed to some extent that Tunisia's urban population of schoolchildren is exposed early to CVD risk factors and all should be done to avoid the worsening of this profile. These results will serve as a baseline for assessment of future trends in the risk factors studied.

[Epidemiological transition and cardiovascular risk factors in Tunisia]. / Transition épidémiologique et facteurs de risque cardiovasculaire en Tunisie.

In Tunisia a growing extension of chronic diseases has resulted from the environmental and behavioral changes such as the adoption of new dietary habits, sedentarity habitat, stress of urbanization and work conditions. To illustrate this trend, we undertook a household epidemiologic survey of a representative sample of the adult urban population of Soussa (n = 957) to assess the main cardiovascular risk factors except the lipid profile distribution. This study showed a high prevalence of hypertension (> 160/95 mm Hg): 18.8% with an adjusted rate of 15.6%. History of diabetes 10.2%, obesity (BMI > 30) 27.7% significantly higher in women (34.4%), android obesity 36%, smoking habits 21.5% significantly higher in men (61.4%). With this risk factor profile, Tunisia has to implement a national strategy of primary prevention and heart health promotion in addition to the efforts recently made in secondary prevention of some chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

[Cost of hydatidosis surgery at the Sousse University Hospital (Tunisia)]. / Coût de l'hydatidose chirurgicale à l'Hôpital universitaire de Sousse (Tunisie).

Hydatidosis is a very common disease in Tunisia, with a great economical importance for the health care system. In 1983, for Sousse Hospital, the total cost for hydatidosis was 125,000 US $. More than half of these costs were for "hospital days". A more rational in the services administration would make decrease these costs, but the best is a special attention to primary prevention.