Cardiovascular risk in medical students: Is living alone a factor?.

Cyrille Jane O BARRION; Christine Gabrielle R BIEN; Arian Jaya B CABALLERO; Julian John L CAI; Jovinian Aji D DE LA CRUZ; Jerahmeel Matthew G DE LEON; Michelle Anne Maree Y DEL PILAR; Francis Charles L FERNANDEZ; Jose Ronilo G JUANGCO

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Cardiovascular risk in medical students: Is living alone a factor?.

Author: Cyrille Jane O. BARRION ¹ ; Christine Gabrielle R. BIEN ¹ ; Arian Jaya B. CABALLERO ¹ ; Julian John L. CAI ¹ ; Jovinian Aji D. DE LA CRUZ ¹ ; Jerahmeel Matthew G. DE LEON ¹ ; Michelle Anne Maree Y. DEL PILAR ¹ ; Francis Charles L. FERNANDEZ ² ; Jose Ronilo G. JUANGCO ³
Author Information

1. College of Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
2. Department of Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
3. Department of Preventive and Community Medicine, University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc., Quezon City, Metro Manila, NCR, Philippines
Publication Type:Journal Article, Original
Keywords: Dietary
MeSH: Human; Cardiovascular Diseases; Risk Factors; Students, Medical; Sleep Quality; Living Alone; Home Environment
From: Health Sciences Journal 2025;14(1):24-29
CountryPhilippines
Language:English
Abstract: INTRODUCTION
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading global health concern. Modifiable behavioral risk factors are increasingly recognized in young adults, especially among medical students who often live independently. This study investigated the association between living alone and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors—sleep quality, sodium intake, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI)—among medical students at UERMMMCI during the 2022-2023 academic year.
METHODS
Researchers conducted an analytical cross-sectional study among 220 medical students. Validated tools were used: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Scored Sodium Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and BMI classification. Researchers performed statistical analyses using Chi-square tests and calculated relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
A significant positive association was found between living alone and poor sleep quality (RR 2.132 p = 0.047). No significant associations were observed between living alone and sodium intake (RR 0.96 p = 0.6868), physical activity (RR 1.18 p = 0.2239), or BMI (RR 1.03 p = 0.7367).
CONCLUSION
Among the studied cardiovascular risk factors, only poor sleep quality was significantly more prevalent among students living alone. These findings highlight the importance of interventions targeting sleep hygiene in this demographic.