Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Although cardiovascular health (CVH), especially health behaviors among youth and young adults, has been well-studied in the United States, similar research is limited in Vietnam. This study assesses the prevalence of various CVH behaviors—including ideal sleep health (ISH), ideal body mass index (IBMI), ideal physical activity (IPA), and non-smoking status—and identifies factors associated with these behaviors among medical students at the University of Danang, Vietnam (UD).
Methods: We used cross-sectional data from a health survey conducted in March-April 2024, targeting all medical students at UD (Years 1-6) with a 98% response rate. Definitions of CVH behaviors were detailed in the Table's footnotes. Multivariable logistic regression was employed for analysis. Demographic information, depression and anxiety levels, other lifestyle factors, and living environment conditions were included in the models. Differences in determinants by sex were also examined.
Results: Among 510 students (mean age 21.9 years; 51.4% female), 27.1% reported ISH, 19.8% achieved IPA, 61.2% had IBMI, 17.3% were underweight, and 96.3% were non-smokers. Multivariable regression indicated that age, anxiety levels, noise at night, and uncomfortable sleep space were associated with lower odds of ISH; odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 0.78 (0.68, 0.88), 0.99 (0.87, 0.99), 0.55 (0.35, 0.89), and 0.26 (0.11, 0.64), respectively. For other ideal behaviors, compared to males, females were significantly less likely to achieve IPA but more likely to have IBMI and be non-smokers (see Table). In gender-stratified analyses, working for pay was positively associated with IPA for females but negatively for males. Among females, better academic achievement was linked to a lower likelihood of IPA. Male students with less gaming time were more likely to be non-smokers.
Conclusion: Ideal sleep health, BMI, and physical activity levels are low, while non-smoking rate is high among medical students in Danang, Vietnam. Key determinants of sleep health include age, mental health, and living environments. Factors such as working for pay, academic achievement, and time spent gaming link to other CVH behaviors differently for males and females. More comprehensive studies on cardiovascular health in Vietnamese college students are needed to identify effective interventions for improving cardiovascular health in the young adult population of this developing country.