Analysis of the Health Checkup Data of Freshmen from a Taiwanese University

Fu-Hsiung Su, Shu Chen Liu, Hong Jer Chang, Pay-Wen Yu, Yi Hui Liu, Kai Yang Sung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: There appears to be a relative paucity of data pertaining to the health status of young Taiwanese adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the health checkup of freshmen at a university in Taiwan and to draw an implication from the results for developing a disease-preventive strategy in order to promote their health status. Methods: A total of 7,706 subjects (3,316 men), featuring a mean age of 19.88±1.51 years were included in this study. Chi-square test and Student's t-test were applied for data analysis. Results: The average BMI (Body Mass Index) of the freshmen studied was 21.36±3.37kg/m2, with 22.42±3.54kg/m2 for males and 20.55±2.99kg/m2 for females. Of study subjects, 12.4% were classified as being obese and 12.7% as being overweight, and 13% were classified as exhibiting high blood pressure, with 5.6% and 24.9% of the freshmen, respectively, being classified as revealing hypercholesterolemia and borderline hypercholesterolemia. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and borderline hypercholesterolemia amongst female students (6.0% and 26.4% respectively) was greater than it was for their male counterparts (5.0% and 22.9% respectively). Of the study subjects, 6.33% were anemic, and 13.4 % and 1.5% of male and female students, respectively, revealed high serum creatinine levels. An abnormal serum alanine aminotransferase level was also observed for 6.4% of the subjects (11.2% of males and 2.8% of females). From a hepatitis-B survey, 7.5% of the subjects were shown to be hepatitis-B carriers. Male students exhibited a higher hepatitis-B carrier rate than did female students. Of the study subjects, 0.6% and 4.4% exhibited positive results for sugar and protein in the urine upon routine examination, and further, 5.7% of subjects revealed a positive urine occult test which included 9.4% of women and 0.8% of men. A total of 41.71% (56.83% of males and 30.3%of females) of the freshmen revealed hyperuricemia. Conclusion: Our university freshmen, particularly male subjects, are prone to the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and cerebral vascular accident. Appropriate intervention as regards health education and life-style modification appears to be warranted in this population.
Translated title of the contribution台灣某大學大學部新生健檢分析
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)117-127
Number of pages11
Journal輔仁醫學期刊
Volume3
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 青年
  • 健康狀態
  • 台灣
  • young adults
  • health status
  • Taiwan

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