Tobacco use, alcohol consumption and family history, such as risk of chronic disorders in university students

Background and objective: The purpose of this study is to ascertain the changes in tobacco use and alcohol consumption, as well as the family history related to the risk for chronic disorders in students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, UNAM), when transitioning from secondary school to university.Methodology: The data from the Comprehensive Health Assessment Survey performed on university students by the Department of Health Services (Direccion General de Servicios Medicos, DGSM) was analysed and compared with their previous health state, tobacco use and alcohol consumption, excess weight, obesity and health issues of relatives.Results: 593 students participated in the survey, of whom 69.6% were women. The greatest mean BMI variation was between the age of 14 and 16. 1.54% reported having high blood pressure during secondary school and 1.69% during university. In three years, alcohol consumption increased by 32% and tobacco use by 7.6%. As for the relatives’ health state, the predominance of high blood pressure went from 24.1 to 30.4, obesity went from 27.6 to 31.3, tobacco use went from 24.5 to 24.9 and type 2 diabetes mellitus went from 12.8% to 16.2% with p < 0.01.Conclusions: The changes in risk factors point to a higher risk profile for chronic disorders. Future health damages could be reduced if measures were taken among young people