Family History of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Prepubertal Children

SummaryOver the past years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of identifiable causes of thrombophilia. However, to date, there are no large, prospective studies to assess an optimal, cost-effective approach with regard to screening and case finding for thrombophilic risk factors in patients presenting with retinal vessel occlusion. Two hundred twenty-eight patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and 130 age-matched healthy controls were prospectively screened for thrombophilic risk factors. Both cohorts were divided into three subgroups, depending on the patients‘ age at the time of the RVO or a previous thromboembolic event. Patient age ≤45 years was associated with a high prevalence of coagulation disorders (p<0.0001). Among patients ≤45 years and >45 to ≤60 years, a family history of thromboembolism was strongly associated with the presence of thrombophilic disorders. The absence of cardiovascular risk factors was found to be a strong predictor for the presence of coagulation disorders in all patient groups (≤45 years, p=0.003; >45 to ≤60 years, p=0.0008; >60 years, p=0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed the presence of resistance to activated protein C (p=0.014), antiphospholipid antibodies (p=0.022), and deficiency of the anticoagulant proteins (p=0.05) as independent risk factors for the development of RVO among patients ≤45 years. Our results indicate that thrombophilic disorders are associated with the development of retinal vein occlusion in patients ≤45 years by the time of the RVO or a previous thromboembolic event, in patients with a family history of thromboembolism, or in patients without cardiovascular risk factors.

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Prevalence of Obesity in Medical students and its correlation with cardiovascular risk factors: Emergency Alarm for Today?

Kathmandu University Medical Journal ◽

10.3126/kumj.v13i4.16834 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 341-345

Author(s):

G. Purohit ◽

T. Shah ◽

J.M. Harsoda

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Medical Students ◽

Family History ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

History Of

Background It is predicted that the prevalence of overweight and obesity will rise significantly by 2015 in young population. Problem of overweight and obesity has been recognized as public health problem worldwide due to the fact that it increases the risk of chronic diseases such as Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), stroke, diabetes, sleep apnoea, osteoarthritis etc.Objective To assess the body mass index in medical students and its association with various cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure, dietary habits, and family history of cardiovascular diseases.Method A university based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in Department of Physiology, Smt. B.K. Shah Medical Institute & Research Center, Vadodara, Gujarat. Data was collected through convenient sampling technique by using self-administered questionnaire followed by anthropometric measurement. Body Mass Index (BMI) of 138 first year medical students was assessed. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, mean blood pressure, pulse rate and arterial oxygen saturation were measured.Result Data was compiled in excel sheet, analyzed for percentage and proportion. Chi square and Pearson correlation test were also applied and alpha error was set at 5% level. In comparison to the students with normal BMI, students with BMI >25 kg/m2 (N=49) showed significantly high blood pressure indices. Dietary habits and family history of cardiovascular diseases were also noted. Highly significant association of high BMI was found with elevated blood pressure (X2=7.4042***, p<0.001) and presence of family history of cardiovascular diseases X2=9.8625***, p<0.001). BMI is negatively correlated with SpO2 (r= -0.0504, p<0.05) and pulse rate, while positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.2736) and diastolic blood pressure (r=0.0275).Conclusion In conclusion, majority (more than 35%) of medical students were overweight, high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors like family history, elevated blood pressure and less SpO2.

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