Abstract
We undertook an epidemiological survey based on a representative sample of 793 rural schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia to assess the prevalence of certain cardiovascular disease risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension (11.2%), hypercholesterolaemia (2.9%), hypertriglyceridaemia (1.0%), high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (0.6%) and obesity (4.0%) showed no statistically significant difference based on sex. However, smoking (4%) showed a significant gender difference (boys: 7.3%; girls 1.2%). The relatively low cardiovascular disease risk factor profile of Tunisian children needs to be encouraged through to adulthood. Thus a school programme of heart health promotion should be established.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Analysis of Variance
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Cardiovascular Diseases* / epidemiology
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Cardiovascular Diseases* / etiology
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Child
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Cluster Analysis
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Epidemiologic Studies
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Female
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Health Promotion
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Health Surveys
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Humans
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Hyperlipidemias / complications
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Hyperlipidemias / diagnosis
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Hyperlipidemias / epidemiology*
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Hypertension / complications
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Hypertension / diagnosis
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Hypertension / epidemiology*
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Male
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Needs Assessment
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Obesity / complications
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Obesity / diagnosis
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Obesity / epidemiology*
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Population Surveillance
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Prevalence
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Risk Factors
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Rural Health / statistics & numerical data*
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School Health Services
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Smoking / adverse effects
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Smoking / epidemiology*
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Students / statistics & numerical data
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Surveys and Questionnaires
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Tunisia / epidemiology