Available online Aug 25, 2025.

[ Original ] Volume 31, Issue 5, 2025, Pages 853-863

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Abstract

 

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, largely driven by modifiable risk factors such as smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity, and hypertension. These risk factors are increasingly observed among young adults, including medical students.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and predictors among University of Calabar (UNICAL) medical students, and to assess associations with sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Data on socio-demographic, behavioural risk factors, physical measurements and medical history and risk factor clustering were collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEP-wise approach. Data analysis was with SPSS version 25. Significance was at p < 0.05 and 95% confidence interval.

Results: A total of 311 medical students participated in the study, comprising 163(52.4%) females and 148(47.6%) males. The majority were aged between 21 and 30 years. The overall prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (had at least one risk factor) was 183(58.8%). Overweight and obesity were the most common (49.8%) of respondents, followed by unhealthy dietary habits (42.1%), physical inactivity (13.2%), and alcohol intake (7.1%). Less frequently reported risk factors included cigarette smoking (4.2%) and high blood pressure (3.9%). Statistically significant associations were observed between cardiovascular risk factors and age (p=0.039), academic level (p<0.001), tribe (p<0.001), and religion (p=0.048). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified older age (above 30 years), 5th year of study, and ethnicity as significant independent predictors of cardiovascular risk. Additionally, 43(23.5%) of the respondents exhibited clustering of two or more modifiable risk factors. The most common clustering patterns were unhealthy diet with physical inactivity (39.5%), unhealthy diet with overweight (20.9%), and alcohol use with overweight (11.6%). Notably, 9.3% of participants had all five risk factors simultaneously.

Recommendation/conclusion: The findings of this study points to a growing burden of cardiovascular risk among future healthcare professional, calling for urgent, structured preventive measures. Integrating cardiovascular health promotion into the medical curriculum, establishing regular health screening programs, and supporting behavioral change interventions that promote physical activity, healthy diets, and reduced alcohol intake among students is recommended.

 

Keywords

Modifiable, cardiovascular risk factors, medical students, clustering, predictors,

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