Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Association with Family History among Undergraduate Medical Students in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objectives: To assess cardiovascular risk factors among undergraduate medical students and evaluate their association with family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Dow University of Health Sciences from December 2025 to February 2026. A total of 179 undergraduate medical students aged ≥18 years were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured proforma assessing demographic characteristics, family history variables, lifestyle behaviors, anthropometric measurements, and clinical parameters. Anthropometric assessment included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and neck circumference, while clinical assessment included blood pressure, pulse rate, random blood glucose, and total cholesterol levels. Participants were stratified according to the presence or absence of family history of CVD. Results: Among the 179 participants, 44.1% reported a positive family history of CVD. Students with family history of CVD demonstrated significantly higher weight, pulse rate, waist circumference, neck circumference, cholesterol levels, and random blood sugar levels compared to those without family history (p<0.05). Lifestyle-related risk factors, including physical inactivity, reduced sleep duration, and smoking exposure, were also more common among participants with family history of CVD. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated significant associations between the cardiovascular risk profile and age (OR=1.22; 95% CI: 1.08–1.37), pulse rate, cholesterol, random blood glucose, known hypertensive status, family history of hypertension, family history of smoking, physical inactivity, and reduced sleep duration (all p<0.05). Gender did not demonstrate a statistically significant association. Conclusion: Undergraduate medical students demonstrated clustering of metabolic and lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among individuals with a positive family history of CVD. These findings emphasize the importance of early screening, lifestyle modification, and preventive cardiovascular health strategies in young medically literate populations.