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Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Young adults are susceptible to CVD risk factors, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to compare CVD risk factors between medical and non-medical students. Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 302 students in Tehran, including 151 medical students and 151 non-medical students, in 2022. Data collection tools included four online questionnaires to collect demographic information, knowledge/attitudes, knowledge of risk factors, and risk factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 software at a 0.05 significance level. Results Data analysis revealed that the mean age of medical and non-medical students was 22.06 ± 3.53 and 21.88 ± 4.20 years, respectively. The two groups were not significantly different in gender, age, marital status, and place of residence. Knowledge of CVD was significantly different between the two groups of students (P

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Young adults are susceptible to CVD risk factors, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to compare CVD risk factors between medical and non-medical students. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 302 students in Tehran, including 151 medical students and 151 non-medical students, in 2022. Data collection tools included four online questionnaires to collect demographic information, knowledge/attitudes, knowledge of risk factors, and risk factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 software at a 0.05 significance level. Results: Data analysis revealed that the mean age of medical and non-medical students was 22.06 ± 3.53 and 21.88 ± 4.20 years, respectively. The two groups were not significantly different in gender, age, marital status, and place of residence. Knowledge of CVD was significantly different between the two groups of students (P < 0.001), but attitudes were not significantly different (P = 0.208). A significant difference in the prognosis of diabetes and dyslipidemia was observed between the two groups (P < 0.001). Conclusions: As a large group of young adults in society, students are at risk for CVD. Poor knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding CVD risk factors are among the contributing factors. Therefore, it is recommended to design and implement a healthy diet, physical activity, stress management, and healthy lifestyle programs for the young group along with screening programs to prevent complications and mortality caused by CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background A recent community-based disease management (CBDM) pilot study reported a 20.5% prevalence of hypertension and a 0.5 and 3.6% prevalence of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively, in an elderly population (mean age 65 years) in the Xin Jiang autonomous region of China. The CBDM was initiated in 2013 as an essential public health service; however, the potential long-term impact of CBDM on cardiovascular (CV: CHD and stroke) events is unknown. The objective of the study was to understand the long-term impact of CBDM interventions on CV risk factors using disease-model simulation based on a single-arm experimental study. Methods A discrete event simulation was developed to evaluate the impact of CBDM on the long-term CV risk among patients with hypertension, in China’s Xin Jiang autonomous region. The model generated pairs of identical patients; one receives CBDM and one does not (control group). Their clinical courses were simulated based on time to CV events (CHD and strokes), which are estimated using published risk equations. The impact of CBDM was incorporated as improvement in systolic blood pressure (SBP) based on observations from the CBDM study. The simulation estimated the number of CV events over patients’ lifetimes. Results During a 2-year follow up, the CBDM led to an average reduction of 8.73 mmHg in SBP from baseline, and a 42% reduction in smoking. The discrete event simulation showed that, in the control group, the model estimated incidence rates of 276, 1789, and 616 per 100,000 individuals for lifetime CHD, stroke, and CV-related death, respectively. The impact of CBDM on SBP translated into reductions of 8, 28, and 23% in CHD, stroke, and CV-related deaths, respectively. Taking into account CBDM’s reduction of both SBP and smoking, deaths from CHD, stroke, and CV-related deaths were reduced by 12, 30, and 26%, respectively. Conclusions The implementation of CBDM in China’s Xinjiang autonomous region is expected to significantly reduce incidences of CHD, strokes, and CV-related deaths.

Background: A recent community-based disease management (CBDM) pilot study reported a 20.5% prevalence of hypertension and a 0.5 and 3.6% prevalence of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD), respectively, in an elderly population (mean age 65 years) in the Xin Jiang autonomous region of China. The CBDM was initiated in 2013 as an essential public health service; however, the potential long-term impact of CBDM on cardiovascular (CV: CHD and stroke) events is unknown. The objective of the study was to understand the long-term impact of CBDM interventions on CV risk factors using disease-model simulation based on a single-arm experimental study.Methods: A discrete event simulation was developed to evaluate the impact of CBDM on the long-term CV risk among patients with hypertension, in China's Xin Jiang autonomous region. The model generated pairs of identical patients; one receives CBDM and one does not (control group). Their clinical courses were simulated based on time to CV events (CHD and strokes), which are estimated using published risk equations. The impact of CBDM was incorporated as improvement in systolic blood pressure (SBP) based on observations from the CBDM study. The simulation estimated the number of CV events over patients' lifetimes.Results: During a 2-year follow up, the CBDM led to an average reduction of 8.73 mmHg in SBP from baseline, and a 42% reduction in smoking. The discrete event simulation showed that, in the control group, the model estimated incidence rates of 276, 1789, and 616 per 100,000 individuals for lifetime CHD, stroke, and CV-related death, respectively. The impact of CBDM on SBP translated into reductions of 8, 28, and 23% in CHD, stroke, and CV-related deaths, respectively. Taking into account CBDM's reduction of both SBP and smoking, deaths from CHD, stroke, and CV-related deaths were reduced by 12, 30, and 26%, respectively.Conclusions: The implementation of CBDM in China's Xinjiang autonomous region is expected to significantly reduce incidences of CHD, strokes, and CV-related deaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Elevated waist circumference (WC) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aboriginals in Australia are at higher risk of CVD compared to non-Aboriginals. We examined the association between waist circumference and CVD, and developed a model for projecting absolute risk of cardiovascular disease using WC and age in one high risk Australian Aboriginal community. Methods We followed up 920 (470 men, 450 women) participants (more than 80% of the eligible population) aged 18 to 76 years, without CVD at baseline, for up to 20 years. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for potential confounding factors. Absolute risk was estimated using the Weibull regression model. Results Of 920 study participants, 156 males and 177 females developed CVD in the follow-up period. Incidence rates for males and females in the 4th WC quartile (Q4) were 38.3 (95%CI 29.6, 49.7) and 47.2 (95%CI 37.1, 60.3) respectively. Crude hazard ratios of CVD for Q4 WC group using Q1 (quartile 1) as the referent quartile were 2.9 (95%CI 1.8- 4.6) for males and 3.5 (95%CI 2.2- 5.5) for females. Association remained after controlling for age, smoking status and alcohol drinking status (HR = 1.8 for males and HR = 3.1 for females). At 45 years of age with baseline waist circumference of 100 cm, a male had an absolute CVD risk of 32.5%, while a female had a 30.6% risk of the disease. Conclusions Risk of CVD among participants increased with increasing WC, and the relationship was accentuated with increasing age. The prediction model provides a tool for understanding the combined effects of WC with age on CVD events in the Australian Aboriginal community. It is simple and easily understood and will assist in identifying individuals at risk of CVD in relation to waist circumference values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]