Prevalence and predictors of cardiovascular disease risks among secondary schools adolescents in Kuwait

In the global scene, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality, particularly among adults, while obesity, which could lead to mortality, is among adolescents. Investigation on CVDs risk factors among adolescents becomes indispensable as it is a critical stage in the development of obesity. In Kuwait, information on the prevalence and predictors of CVDs risk factors among adolescents is lacking. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive study to investigate the issues to draw out plans and programs for the prevention of CVDs. The present study was conducted primarily to investigate the predominating issues on CVDs risk factors which encompassed smoking, physical inactivity, low diversity diet, hypertension, and obesity among adolescents. This study was conducted in a cross-sectional design on selected public secondary schools in six Governorates (Al- Ahmadi, Al- Jahraa, Hawally, Al- Asimah, Al- Farwania, and Mubarak Al- Kabeer) in Kuwait. Adolescents aged 14 to 17 years old were the study's respondents, selected following cluster sampling method. Gathered information from a total of 4958 respondents were analyzed using Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression to establish the significance of predictors of CVDs risk factors. Data revealed that only a minority of the respondents were recorded to be obese (n=115; 2.3%). Most of them were reported without any case of hypertension (95.5%) but had consumed rich diets (71.5%). The results showed that physical inactivity was more prevalent among girls (85.1%) than boys (78.9%). Of the total respondents, there were only 54 who ever-smoked (1.1%). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that girls were less likely to be never-smoke in regards to the total respondents. Sixteen-year-old girls were less likely to perform high in physical activity compared with 18-year-olds, coming from families with incomes of ≥1600KWD compared with respondents whose families' incomes were <1600 KWD. School districts of Al-Asimah, Hawally, Al-Jahraa, and Al-Ahmadi were more likely to perform high in physical activity as compared with school district of Mubarak Al-Kabeer. Girls of school Grade12 from household size of 1-2 members were more likely to be rich in diet diversity score compared with Grade10 from household of size 7 members and above. School districts of Al-Farwania and Al-Asimah were less likely to be on rich diversity diets as compared with school district of Mubarak Al-Kabeer, while school districts of Al-Farwania, Al-Asimah, Hawally, Al-Jahraa, and Al-Ahmadi were more likely to have no cases of hypertension compared with school district of Mubarak Al-Kabeer. Girls' respondents compared with boys from school district of Al-Ahmadi compared with school district of Mubarak Al-Kabeer were not likely to be obese. The study concluded that the prevalence of CVDs risks (smoking, low diversity diet, hypertension, and obesity) among secondary school adolescents was low in Kuwait. However, physical inactivity was high among secondary school adolescents in Kuwait. The study has provided an insight in planning an effective intervention in the prevention of CVDs risk factors among adolescents.

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