Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: April | Volume: 7 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 9-12
Non Communicable Diseases Risk Factors among Students of a Government Medical College in Kolkata
Prasanta Ray Karmakar
Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Raiganj Government Medical College & Hospital, Raiganj, India
ABSTRACT
Background: Non communicable diseases are increasing –both in developed and developing countries. These diseases usually occur after exposure to different risk factors for long period of time. By modifying these risk factors disease load can be minimized in the community.
Methods: Observational descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students of a medical college of Kolkata. Data about personal characteristic and behavioural risk factors were collected by a pre designed questionnaire. Then Blood pressure and height, weight and waist circumference were measured according to standard procedure.
Result: Among students 19% were smoking tobacco products, 1.7% chew tobacco products and 16.7% have consumed alcohol in last three months. Fifteen percent students were not involved in any type of physical exercise and 66% students did physical exercise for less than150 minutes per week. One third (35%) students were overweight or obese. Family history of hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart diseases was present in 40.50%, 33.6% and 37.5% of the study subjects respectively.
Conclusion: Large proportion of students was exposed to different risk factors of non communicable diseases. Early intervention is necessary to modify the behavioural risk factors for prevention of NCD in the future.
Keywords: Non communicable diseases, risk factors, students, medical college
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