The study, conducted by authors A. D. Asilbekova, A. A. Toktorbaeva, B. A. Matisakova, and D. A. Osmonov, emphasizes that cardiovascular diseases can develop long before reaching adulthood, and the adolescent period is critically important for accumulating risk factors. However, information on the prevalence of tobacco smoking and vaping among youth in the country remains scarce.
During the study, an anonymous survey was conducted among adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. A total of 68 individuals participated: 39 boys and 29 girls. The survey took place in shopping centers in Bishkek, in the Lenin and Oktyabrsky districts. Respondents were asked about their smoking and vaping habits, level of physical activity, quality and duration of sleep, as well as the presence of chronic diseases.
The results showed that 50% of adolescents use nicotine-containing products. Of these, 38.2% practice vaping, while 35.3% smoke cigarettes. A combination of vaping and cigarette smoking was noted by 23.5% of participants, while only 14.7% used vapes, and only cigarettes were used by 11.8%.
The prevalence of nicotine products among boys was significantly higher - 66.7% compared to 27.6% among girls. The relative risk of smoking among boys is 2.4 times higher, and the likelihood of starting smoking is more than five times greater than among girls. These differences are statistically significant, as noted by the authors.
Additionally, a clear age dependency was identified: among adolescents aged 13-14, no cases of nicotine use were registered, while among those aged 17-18, this figure reached 71.4%.
Adolescents who use nicotine exhibit higher values of systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to non-smokers. 20.6% of respondents showed elevated systolic pressure (130 mm Hg and above), and among nicotine-dependent individuals, this was nearly three times higher.
More than half of the participants did not engage in regular physical activity, with less than 6% participating in sports daily. The average sleep duration was about 7.8 hours; however, some adolescents reported severe sleep deprivation, averaging only 2-4 hours per day. Chronic diseases such as bronchitis, sinusitis, anemia, and psoriasis were identified in 13.2% of respondents.
In conclusion, the authors emphasize that the combination of nicotine dependence, a sedentary lifestyle, sleep disturbances, and the presence of chronic diseases contributes to the formation of an unfavorable cardiovascular profile in adolescence. The findings highlight the importance of implementing early preventive programs in schools and colleges, including blood pressure monitoring, nicotine dependence prevention, and promotion of physical activity.
The photo on the main page is illustrative: msn.com.
