Modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease among young people in Addis Ababa.

We report results of a cross-sectional survey of modifiable risk factors for coronary heart disease among young people (15-24 years of age) in Addis Ababa, conducted in 1994/95. A city-wide random sample of 1,436 (851 females and 585 males) young people participated in the study. Interviews using structured questionnaires, weight, height and blood pressure measurements were conducted using trained and supervised field workers. Current smoking was 11.8% for males and 1.1% for females. About 34% of the respondents consumed alcoholic beverages regularly, but 7.0% of these took more than 100 grams of alcohol per week. High fat intake and sedentary life-styles were registered in 4.5 and 8.4% of the respondents, respectively. About 6.0% of the females and 0.7% of the males were obese. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure (diastolic BP > 90 mmHG) was 7.1%. The prevalence of modifiable risk factors among young people in Addis Ababa indicates that there is need for initiation of primary preventive activities as soon as possible.