Key result
Urban adolescents reported significantly longer periods of moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to rural adolescents (median 50.0 vs 40.0 min/day, p < 0.01).
Why the study?
Early adoption of a healthy lifestyle benefits adult cardiovascular health, but cardiovascular health metrics and differences between rural and urban teenagers needed assessment.
Are there differences in ideal cardiovascular health metrics between urban and rural healthy adolescents?
Cross-Sectional (n=2,031)
Yes
Are there differences in ideal cardiovascular health metrics between urban and rural healthy adolescents?
Absolute Event Rate: 50% vs 40%
p-value: p=<0.01
The prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health is extremely low among both urban and rural adolescents, highlighting the need for early health interventions.
Urban-rural MVPA differences in adolescents should not yet change practice; leaves open longitudinal cardiovascular outcome effects.
PURPOSE: Early adoption of a healthy lifestyle has positive effects on cardiovascular health (CVH) in adulthood. In this study, we aimed to assess CVH metrics in a cohort of healthy teenagers with focus on differences between rural and urban areas. METHODS: The Early Vascular Aging (EVA) Tyrol study is a population-based non-randomized controlled trial, which prospectively enrolled 14- to 19-year-old adolescents in North Tyrol, Austria and South Tyrol, Italy between 2015 and 2018. Data from the baseline and control group (prior to health intervention) are included in the current analysis. CVH determinants (smoking, body mass index, physical activity, dietary patterns, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose) were assessed and analyzed for urban and rural subgroups separately by univariate testing. Significant variables were added in a generalized linear model adjusted for living in urban or rural area with age and sex as covariates. Ideal CVH is defined according to the guidelines of the American Heart Association. RESULTS: 2031 healthy adolescents were enrolled in the present study (56.2% female, mean age 16.5 years). 792 adolescents (39.0%) were from urban and 1239 (61.0%) from rural areas. In 1.3% of adolescents living in urban vs. 1.7% living in rural areas all CVH determinants were in an ideal range. Compared to the rural group, urban adolescents reported significantly longer periods of moderate to vigorous-intensive activity (median 50.0 min/day (interquartile range 30-80) vs. median 40.0 min/day (interquartile range 25-60), p < 0.01). This observation remained significant in a generalized linear model (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between the study groups regarding all other CVH metrics. CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of ideal CVH for adolescents living in urban as well as rural areas highlights the need for early health intervention. Geographic differences must be taken into account when defining targeted subgroups for health intervention programs.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Hochmayr et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adolescents (n=2,031). Urban living vs. Rural living was evaluated on Moderate to vigorous-intensive physical activity (median min/day) (p=<0.01). Urban adolescents reported significantly longer periods of moderate to vigorous physical activity compared to rural adolescents (median 50.0 vs 40.0 min/day, p < 0.01).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: