Cardiovascular disease risk profile among young Saudi women of Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Study Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the level of risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among young Saudi women living in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: As part of “The Heart Protection Campaign†in the Al-Qassim region, data were collected from Saudi women using questionnaires as well as objective measurement of height, weight, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Only 15% of the sample were free of risk factors, the majority had either one (57.5%) or two (20.8%) risk factors. Additionally, 6.7% were considered to be at high-risk with three or more risk factors. The most common risk factors were physical inactivity (74%) and overweight/obesity, (25% / 29%). There was a significant increase in the number of risk factors across age groups. Women over the age of 30 were more likely to have a higher number of risk factors than the younger women (20-24 years).

Conclusions: Young women in Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia have an unusually high risk for CVD.  Since the number of risk factors increases substantially between the ages of 20 and 35, there is a need to develop prevention programs to lower the CVD risk through diet and exercise.

Keywords:cardiovascular risk factors, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, young women, Saudi Arabia.

 

Keywords:

cardiovascular risk factors diabetes mellitus hypertension obesity young women Saudi Arabia.
Kalaf, H., AlMesned, A., Soomro, T., Lasheen, W., Ewid, M., & Al-Mohaimeed, A. A. (2016). Cardiovascular disease risk profile among young Saudi women of Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Health Sciences, 10(1). Retrieved from https://pub.qu.edu.sa/index.php/journal/article/view/1224
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