Assessing the global risk of cardiovascular disease among a group of university students: population-based cross-sectional study in Yaoundé, Cameroon

OBJECTIVE: To describe the global cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk distribution in a young adult-aged population living in Yaoundé, Cameroon and depict factors likely influencing this risk distribution. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study between May and July 2017. SETTING: The University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. PARTICIPANTS: Any university student aged 18 years and above, with no known history of CVD, found at the campus during recruitment and who voluntarily agreed to be included in the study. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The global risk of CVD was measured with the non-laboratory-based INTERHEART Modifiable Risk Score. RESULTS: A total of 949 participants (54% males) were recruited; the median age was 23 (IQR 21–26) years. The CVD risk varied between 2 and 21, with a median of 9 (IQR 7–12); 51.2% of students had a low risk of CVD, 43.7% had a moderate risk and 5.1% presented a high risk of CVD. The number of years since first registration at the university (β=0.08), history of sudden death among biological parents (β=1.28), history of hypertension among brothers/sisters (β=1.33), history of HIV infection (β=4.34), the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Consumption score (β=0.13), regular exposure to firewood smoke (β=1.29), eating foods/drinks with too much sugar ≥1 time/day (β=0.96), eating foods/snacks with too much oil ≥3 times/week (β=1.20) and eating dairy products≥1 time/day (β=0.61) were the independent factors likely influencing participants’ global risk of CVD. CONCLUSION: Almost 50% of participants had moderate or high risk of CVD. Specific interventions targeting major CVD risk factors should be put in place among young adults to prevent or reduce this upcoming overburdened picture of CVD.