A group of researchers, including A. D. Asilbekova, A. A. Toktorbaeva, B. A. Matisakova, and D. A. Osmonov, notes that cardiovascular diseases begin to develop long before reaching adulthood, and the adolescent period is critical for accumulating risk factors. However, information on the prevalence of smoking and vaping among youth in Kyrgyzstan remains quite limited.
An anonymous survey among adolescents aged 13 to 18 was conducted in shopping centers in the Lenin and Oktyabrsky districts of Bishkek. The survey involved 68 adolescents: 39 boys and 29 girls. Participants were asked about their smoking and vaping habits, level of physical activity, quality and duration of sleep, as well as the presence of chronic diseases.
According to the study results, 50% of adolescents used nicotine-containing products. Vaping was reported by 38.2% of respondents, while 35.3% smoked regular cigarettes. 23.5% of adolescents used both vapes and cigarettes, 14.7% used only vapes, and 11.8% used only cigarettes.
It is notable that among boys, the prevalence of nicotine use was 66.7%, while among girls, this figure was only 27.6%. The risk of smoking was 2.4 times higher among boys, and the likelihood of starting smoking exceeded the corresponding figure among girls by more than five times. These differences were statistically significant, as emphasized by the authors of the study.
Age dependence was also evident: no participant aged 13-14 used nicotine, while among adolescents aged 17-18, smoking or vaping was observed in 71.4% of respondents.
Adolescents who used nicotine had higher systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared to non-smokers. 20.6% of respondents had elevated systolic pressure (130 mm Hg and above), with this figure being almost three times higher among smokers.
Additionally, over half of the participants did not engage in regular physical activity, and less than 6% exercised daily. The average sleep duration was approximately 7.8 hours, but some adolescents reported significant sleep deprivation, sleeping only 2-4 hours a day. Chronic diseases such as bronchitis, sinusitis, anemia, and psoriasis were reported by 13.2% of respondents.
In conclusion, the authors emphasize that the combination of nicotine habits, a sedentary lifestyle, lack of sleep, and chronic diseases forms an unfavorable cardiovascular profile even among adolescents. This data highlights the need for the implementation of early preventive programs in schools and colleges, including blood pressure monitoring, nicotine dependence prevention, and promotion of physical activity.
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