The research team consisted of A. D. Asilbekova, A. A. Toktorbaeva, B. A. Matisakova, and D. A. Osmonov. They emphasize that cardiovascular diseases can develop long before reaching adulthood, and adolescence is a critical time for accumulating risk factors. However, information on the prevalence of smoking and vaping among youth in Kyrgyzstan remains insufficient.
As part of the study, an anonymous survey was conducted among adolescents aged 13 to 18. The survey included 68 participants, comprising 39 boys and 29 girls. The survey took place in shopping centers in the Lenin and October districts of Bishkek, where participants were asked about smoking, vaping, physical activity levels, sleep quality, and the presence of chronic diseases.
The results showed that 50% of adolescents had tried nicotine-containing products. Among them, 38.2% practiced vaping, while 35.3% smoked regular cigarettes. The combination of vaping and smoking was reported by 23.5% of respondents, whereas only vapes were used by 14.7%, and only cigarettes by 11.8%.
Among boys, the prevalence of nicotine use was 66.7%, while among girls, this figure was only 27.6%. The relative risk of smoking was 2.4 times higher among boys, and the likelihood of starting smoking was more than five times greater. These differences were statistically significant.
An age dependency was also identified: in the 13-14 age group, no one used nicotine, while among 17-18-year-olds, the figure reached 71.4%.
Adolescents who used nicotine exhibited higher systolic blood pressure and heart rates compared to non-smokers. Among participants, 20.6% had elevated systolic pressure (130 mm Hg and above), with this number being almost three times higher among smokers.
More than half of the participants did not engage in regular physical activity, and less than 6% exercised daily. The average sleep duration was about 7.8 hours; however, some adolescents reported severe sleep deprivation—only 2-4 hours per day. Chronic diseases (such as bronchitis, sinusitis, anemia, and psoriasis) were recorded in 13.2% of respondents.
In conclusion, the authors of the study emphasize that the combination of nicotine use, lack of physical activity, sleep disturbances, and the presence of chronic diseases creates an unfavorable cardiovascular profile even in adolescence. This data highlights the importance of implementing early preventive programs in schools and colleges, which should include monitoring blood pressure, preventing nicotine dependence, and promoting physical activity.
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