ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC PATTERN AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN DAR ES SALAAM – TANZANIA A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY Dr

Background: Abnormal resting electrocardiogram (ECG) findings have been strongly associated with subsequent increase in all cause CAD and CVD mortality. The abnormalities are defined as either major or minor based on the different criteria. Minor and major abnormalities have been correlated with increasing risk for CAD events and mortality. Moderately elevated cholesterol levels found in the majority of young adults in their 20s and 30s were associated with damage to coronary arteries, which could accumulate over time and persisted into middle age. Individuals exposed to higher levels of LDL cholesterol or lower levels of HDL cholesterol during young adulthood were more likely to develop coronary calcium. Objectives: To describe the ECG pattern and cardiovascular risks factors among students aged 18-40 years at the University of Dar es salaam Mlimani Campus Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study describe the ECG abnormalities and cardiovascular disease risks factors among UDSM students aged 19-40 years conducted among university of Dar es salaam students. A total number of 411 university students were evaluated from May to October 2011. Standardized questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic characteristics and clinical presentation of study participants. ECG abnormalities were divided into minor and major abnormalities based on Minnesota code criteria. Results: 411 participants were included in the study out of which 140 (34.1%) were female and 271(65.9%) were male. The age range was (19-40) & mean age of 23.6±2.6. The participants were free from any form of cardiovascular disease. The mean SBP/DBP was 120.1 ±11.6/73.4 ± 9.6 respectively. One participant was found to be diabetic and one hypertensive. Family history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and diabetes mellitus was reported in 26(6.3%), 54(13.1%), 16(3.9%) and 85(20.7%) participants respectively. Fifteen (3.6%) participants were active smoker at the time of recruitment. Majority of ECG were either normal or within acceptable limits, the automated Minnesota coding reported 152(37%) normal ECG, when the ECG were re-evaluated, 326(76.3%) were