Prevalence and combination of behavioral risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in secondary vocational education students

Aim. To assess the prevalence and combination of behavioral risk factors (BRFs) for noncommunicable diseases in secondary vocational education students.

Material and methods. A sociological survey of secondary vocational educational students in Bryansk was conducted. The questionnaire consisted of 23 questions concerning BRFs. A total of 1664 respondents were surveyed (response rate, 62%). The results were processed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical package.

Results. The mean age was 17,5±1,4 years (minors — 50,7%; men — 26,7%). The leading risk factor was unhealthy diet, accounting for 56,7%. Smoking was second (24,2%), with men smoking more than women (p=0,001). Alcohol consumption was reported by 21,9%, with men significantly more frequently (p=0,037). The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity was 16,9%. The prevalence of low physical activity was 15,5%. In addition, 19,9% of students did not have any BFRs. The proportion of individuals with multiple risk factors among minors was 25%, and among those aged 18 years or older — 32,8%. A combination of multiple risk factors is significantly more common in adults (p=0,001).

Conclusion. A low adherence to healthy lifestyle and a high prevalence of risk factors were found among students. The proportion of students with multiple risk factors increases with age. Adolescent behavioral characteristics necessitate targeted interventions against risk factors and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Monitoring risk factors and developing preventive programs are key components of successful risk factor management.

1. Baranov AA, Namazova-­Baranova LS, Albitskii VYu, et al. The con­dition and problems of adolescents' health in Russia. Prob­lems of Social Hygiene, Health Care, and Medical History. 2014;22(6):10-4. (In Russ.) EDN: TDYAML.

2. Kazantseva AV, Anufrieva EV. Implementation of an inter­de­part­mental approach in the organization of students' health care on the example of a college in the Sverdlovsk Region. Scientific and Medical Bulletin of the Central Chernozem Region. 2020;79:38-43. (In Russ.) EDN: ZBRBOM.

3. Kuchma VR, Sokolova SB. Harmonization of European and Rus­sian standards for assessing the quality of medical care in educational institutions. Russian Pediatric Journal. 2016;19(3): 157-62. (In Russ.) doi:10.18821/1560-9561-2016-19-3-157-162.

4. Paltusheva TP, Kuanyshbekova GA. Behavioral risk factors and health of young people. Bulletin of Avicenna. 2009;3:120-3. (In Russ.) EDN: SMSXZN.

5. Puzanova ZhV, Chekhovsky IV. Healthy lifestyle: understanding and attitude of student youth. Bulletin of the Russian University of Peoples' Friendship. Series: Sociology. 2014;4:135-50. (In Russ.) EDN: SYLZZB.

6. Kurakin MS, Maksimov SA, Kostina NG, et al. Individual and con­tex­tual conditions of behavioral risk factors’ formation in stu­dents of food technology specialty. The Russian Journal of Preven­tive Me­di­cine. 2023;26(7):67-73. (In Russ.) doi:10.17116/profmed20232607167.

7. Lavrova MA, Naidenova TO, Golub AYu. Students' perception of health and its risk factors. Collection of Humanitarian Research. 2020;4(25):17-26. (In Russ.) doi:10.21626/j-chr/2020-4(25)/9.

8. Kozhevnikova NG. The role of risk factors in the formation of lifestyle incidence of students. Zemskij vrach. 2011;6(10):13-7. (In Russ.) EDN: ODFSJA.

9. Shatokhina TA, Korokhova NA, Verzhbitskaya EG, et al. Study of risk factors affecting the health status of students. Physical Edu­cation and Sports/Colloquium-­journal. 2021;8(95):45-8. (In Russ.) doi:10.24412/2520-6990-2021-895-45-48.

10. Elgarova LV. Role of prophylactic programs in students’ health care. Occupational Medicine and Industrial Ecology. 2007;10:17-23. (In Russ.) EDN: KGBMNH.

11. Kuvshinnikova MB. Socio-psychological risk factors of addictive behavior in students. Uchenye Zapiski Universiteta imeni P. F. Les­gafta. 2023;8(222):411-6. (In Russ.) EDN: UAXAJO.

12. Tsurgan AM, Dementiev AA, Lyapkalo AA, et al. The charac­te­ristics of life-style of medical students. Problems of Social Hy­giene, Health Care, and Medical History. 2021;29(6):1531-5. (In Russ.) doi:10.32687/0869-866x-2021-29-6-1531-1535.

13. Drapkina OM, Drozdova LYu, Kalinina AM, et al. Organization of pre­ven­tive medical examinations and dispensary examinations of cer­tain groups of the adult population. Methodological Recom­men­da­tions. 2nd Edition. Moscow: FGBU "NMIC TPM" of the Mi­nistry of Health of the Russian Federation, 2020. 232 p. (In Russ.) ISBN: 978-5-6043991-1-8. EDN: QWHFZK.

14. Kalinina AM, Kulikova MS, Shepel RN, et al. Multiple behavioral risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases: the concept of concatenated influence. The Russian Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2025;28(1):44-9. (In Russ.) doi:10.17116/profmed20252801144.

15. Balanova YuA, Kontsevaya AV, Shalnova SA, et al. Prevalence of behavior al risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the Russian population: Results of the ESSE-RF epidemiological study. Russian Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2014;17(5):42-52. (In Russ.) EDN: TQOSLL.

16. Shalnova SA, Maksimov SA, Balanova YuA, et al. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle of the Russian population depending on the so­cio-demographics. Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention. 2020;19(2):2452. (In Russ.) doi:10.15829/1728-8800-2020-2452.

17. Kobyakova OS, Deev IA, Kulikov ES, et al. Chronic noncommuni­cab­le diseases: combined effects of risk factors. The Russian Jour­nal of Preventive Medicine. 2019;22(2):45-50. (In Russ.) doi:10.17116/profmed20192202145.

18. Popova NM, Nurtdinov AA, Ivanova MA, et al. Cardiovascular di­sea­se prevention awareness among young people. Current pro­blems of health care and medical statistics. 2024;5:945-58. (In Russ.) doi:10.24412/2312-2935-2024-5-945-958.

19. Buzin VN, Savchenko ED, Shelgunov VA. Knowledge about risk fac­tors of chronic non-communicable diseases in the pilot re­gions of the Russian Federation. Social aspects of public health. 2024;70(1):12. (In Russ.) doi:10.21045/2071-5021-2024-70-1-12.