Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, with their prevalence increasing every year. Currently, special attention is being paid not only to treatment but also to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as arterial hypertension and ischemic heart disease. It is known that there are numerous cardiovascular risk factors, including modifiable ones, which provide opportunities to contribute to reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. However, before influencing cardiovascular risk factors, it is necessary to understand which ones are more significant for the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan.Objective. To assess the prevalence and significance of cardiovascular risk factors among the young population of Kazakhstan.Methods. A total of 4140 young people aged 18 to 44 years were analyzed using questionnaires including questions about risk factors and comorbid background. Additionally, each respondent underwent three measurements of blood pressure and pulse, following the recommendations for blood pressure measurement of the European Society of Hypertension.Results. The mean age of participants was 31.6±7.4 years (95% CI 31.4–31.9). The mean body mass index was 24.7±4.7 (95% CI 24.5–24.8). The mean pulse was 79.1±10.5 (78.8–79.4). 50.3% were current or former smokers. Approximately 24.4% reported alcohol abuse. 43.5% reported a sedentary lifestyle.Conclusion. This study confirms the need for screening programs aimed at identifying cardiovascular risk factors, as well as increasing awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and their prevention.Keywords: risk factors, screening, blood pressure, young population, obesity, overweight, smoking, sedentary lifestyle.