Environmental factors and cardiovascular risk in young individuals.
Normal endothelial function alters physiologically with aging. Intervention of environmental factors precipitates and accelerates endothelial dysfunction progression, correlated with cardiovascular risk.


OBJECTIVE
To study the impact of environmental factors (smoking, nutritional habits, stress, physical activity) on the imbalance of the endothelial commuting threshold.


METHODS
The questionnaire method was applied in order to identify and quantify the presence of environmental factors; an anthropometrical physical exam was performed; metabolic profile (insulin resistance HOMA-IR, lipid parameters) was assessed. Arterial elasticity was assessed with Complior (Artech Medical).


RESULTS
The studied lot (n=80, 21.16 +/- 2.43 years) comprised young medicine students and showed a high incidence of: smoking (31.25%), unhealthy nutritional habits (60%), stress (60%), sedentary lifestyle (25%). The odds for endothelial function alteration were significant only in subjects who associated stress and smoking (OR=8.18, p=0.0006); in the same group, there was noticed the tendency for metabolic profile alteration, meaning insulin resistance (OR=1.19, p=ns). The association stress-smoking did not significantly influence the unhealthy nutritional habits (p=ns, OR=2.39), lipoprotein anomalies (TC > or = 190 mg/dL: p=ns, OR=0.98; LDL > or = 130 mg/dL: p=ns, OR=3.53), or the sedentary lifestyle (p=ns, OR=0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
The main environmental factors which determine endothelial function imbalance in young ages are smoking and occupational stress. It is a positive stress which does not lead to significant metabolic anomalies or lifestyle changes. Though, this kind of stress leads to an unhealthy behavior: smoking. The association stress-smoking is essential in endothelial function alteration in young subjects. Primary cardiovascular prevention must focus drastically on unhealthy behaviors correction to reduce cardiovascular risk in young individuals.
Mancaş
Silvia
S
Department of Medical Ambulatory, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania.
Mihalaş
Georgeta
G
Gaită
D
D
Drăgan
Simona
S
Duda-Seiman
D M
DM
Sarău
C A
CA
Noveanu
Lavinia
L
Petcov
Bileana
B
Mancaş
Georgiana
G
Ionescu
V
V
Păcurar
Monica
M
D000886:Anthropometry; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004777:Environment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult