Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk in Young Adults

Overweight and obesity are becoming more common in the youth of India because of physical inactivity and improved standard of living. Overweight, improper dietary habits and stress are considered as the modifiable risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular risk factors in young adults can be easily evaluated by performing simple non invasive tests such as evaluation of rate pressure product (RPP) which indirectly determines the myocardial oxygen consumption and cardiac parasympathetic function tests.

To assess the cardiovascular risk factors in underweight and overweight young adults.

180 healthy participants were grouped based on their BMI values as underweight (60), normal weight (60) and overweight (60). BP and heart rate were recorded and RPP was calculated. Cardiac parasympathetic tests such as 30: 15Ratio and Valsalva Ratio were measured. Comparison between the groups was done by one way ANOVA and correlation between various parameters was done using Pearson's correlation co-efficient.

BP and RPP was significantly higher and cardiac parasympathetic tests were significantly reduced in overweight compared to normal weight. We found significant positive correlation between BMI and BP and Rate pressure product, negative correlation between BMI and Valsalva ratio.

Increased BMI is associated with increased BP, reduced cardiac parasympathetic activity and increased myocardial oxygen consumption which leads to increase workload on the heart. We should emphasise on increasing awareness about overweight in young adults, bringing in preventive measures to reduce the cardiovascular risk factors and future complications.