PREVALENCE OF PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (PAD) ASSOCIATED WITH FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION, USING ANKLE- BRACHIAL INDEX IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to find out the prevalence of PAD associated with fast food consumptions in university students under the age of 18-25 years. STUDY DESIGN Observational study SAMPLING TECHNIQUE Convenience random sampling SAMPLE SIZE 57 students with age range of 18-25 years OUTCOME MEASURE Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) METHODOLOGY The subjects were recruited from first year to final year students for the study. A one month dietary questionnaire was given to the students. We instructed the students to fill questionnaire on daily basis. The dietary questionnaire contained list of 46 fast food items. After a month, a portable Doppler Ultrasound was used to measure their ABI values. RESULTS Fast food consumption highly impacts on peripheral arterial disease (p 0.00) so the association of fast food with PAD predicts the upcoming cardiovascular events in university students. There is no significant relationship of gender with peripheral arterial diseases (p 0.335). Also, there is no significance relation between fast food and gender (p 0.153). CONCLUSION In this territory, the PAD is increasing particularly in the ages of 18-25 years and all individuals with an ABI <1.0 demonstrates as a minimum one classical cardiovascular risk factor, which needs sufficient concentration and an aggressive risk management.