title: Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in a population of young students from the National University of Colombia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate prevalence and distribution of cardiovascular risk factors and Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in young individuals admitted to the National University of Colombia in Bogotá.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 249 individuals of both genders aged 15 to 20 years. A questionnaire was personally administered to collect demographic, socioeconomic, smoking, perinatal, and women's health data. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and a fasting blood sample were taken. Prevalence of MS was determined and compared using criteria from several qualified institutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a high prevalence of smoking (18.9%), arterial prehypertension (14.1%) and overweight (11.2%), 9.2% of study participants had prediabetes, and the most frequent dyslipidemia was low HDL cholesterol (13.3%). Alcoholic beverage consumption was declared by 60.6% of study terol and plasma triglyceride levels. Gestational age at birth was inversely associated with presence of low HDL cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Prevalence of the MS varied markedly according to the definition employed: 9.2% using REGODCI (Research Group on Diabetes and Chronic Illnesses) criteria, 2% using IDF (International Diabetes Federation) criteria, and 2.4% using AHA (American Heart Association) criteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The encountered prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors justifies promotion of therapeutic lifestyle changes among this age group in Colombia. Further harmonization of MS criteria in young individuals is needed.
authors.affiliation: División de Lípidos y Diabetes Facultad de Medicina - Edificio 471, Ciudad Universitaria Carrera 30 No 45-03. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. jefelicianoa@yahoo.com
authors.forename: John Edwin
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Feliciano-Alfonso
authors.forename: Carlos Olimpo
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Mendivil
authors.forename: Iván Darío Sierra
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: Clara Eugenia
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult