Prevalence of ideal cardiovascular health in European adolescents: The HELENA study

[Background]: The ideal cardiovascular health (iCVH) construct consists of 4 health behaviours and 3 health factors and is strongly related to later cardiovascular disease. However, the prevalence of iCVH in European adolescents is currently unknown. [Methods]: The Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study is a cross-sectional, multicentre study conducted in 9 European countries during 2006–2007 and included 3528 adolescents (1683 boys and 1845 girls) between 12.5 and 17.5 years of age. Status (ideal vs. non-ideal) for the health behaviours (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity and diet) and health factors (total cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting glucose) were determined. [Results]: Overall, the prevalence of ideal health behaviours was low; non-smoking (60.9% ideal), body mass index (76.8%), physical activity (62.1%), and diet (1.7%). The prevalence of ideal health factors was; total cholesterol (65.8%), blood pressure (62.0%) and plasma glucose (88.8%). [Conclusions]: The low prevalence of iCVH behaviours, especially diet and physical activity, identified in European adolescents is likely to influence later cardiovascular health which strongly motivates efforts to increase ideal health behaviours in this population.