Educational Status and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Awka, Southeast Nigeria

Background and Objectives: All over the world, cardiovascular risks constitute a heavy healthcare burden, affecting people with different levels of education, across economies in both the developed and the developing ones. Differences in educational levels in cardiovascular risks have not been completely defined. This study was set out to evaluate the influence of levels of education on the risks of cardiovascular disease in an urban community in Awka, southeast Nigeria. Methodology: In this cross sectional study of 294 subjects conducted in Awka in 2017, biodata, anthropometric and demographic data were obtained. A questionnaire was used to extract information on smoking, alcohol use, tobacco snuff use, diabetes mellitus status, time spent at work > 10 hours daily and night sleep duration < 4 hours. Blood pressure and body mass index were measured. Data were analyzed and the association between levels of education and the potential cardiovascular risks determined. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 5.4%, tobacco snuff use 5.4%, alcohol 42.2%, thickened arterial wall 27.2%, meat protein 91.8%, diabetes mellitus 9.5%, time spent at work > 10 hours daily 29.3%, obesity 33.3%, hypertension 58.5%, night sleep < 4 hours 5.4%. Levels of education has association with tobacco use (p = 0.009), alcohol use (p = 0.013), thickened arterial wall (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), time spent at work > 10 hours daily (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.020), hypertension (p < 0.001), meat consumption (p = 0.047). However, smoking and night sleep < 4 hours have no significant association with levels of education, p = 0.415, and p = 0.132. Conclusion: There was variability in the prevalence of cardiovascular risks at different levels of education. The prevalence of smoking and night sleep duration < 4 hours did not vary with levels of education. The prevalence of tobacco snuff and thickened arterial wall was high in primary education holders and meat consumption in secondary education. Alcohol prevalence increased with increasing levels of education. Diabetes mellitus, time spent oat work > 10 hours daily, hypertension and obesity increased in prevalence with increasing levels of education but declined with tertiary education.

Modifiable factors mediating the effects of educational attainment on gestational diabetes mellitus: A two-step Mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND Although there is currently a wealth of evidence to indicate that maternal educational attainment is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM),the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between these two variables have yet to be identified.AIM To identify the specific modifiable risk factors that mediate the causal relationship between the level of maternal education and GDM.METHODS Mendelian randomization(MR)was conducted using data from genome-wide association studies of European populations.We initially performed a two-sample MR analysis using data on genetic variants associated with the duration of education as instruments,and subsequently adopted a two-step MR approach using metabolic and lifestyle factors as mediators to examine the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the level of maternal education and risk of developing GDM.In addition,we calculated the proportions of total causal effects mediated by identified metabolic and lifestyle factors.RESULTS A genetically predicted higher educational attainment was found to be associated with a lower risk of developing GDM(OR:0.71,95%CI:0.60-0.84).Among the metabolic factors assessed,four emerged as potential mediators of the education-GDM association,which,ranked by mediated proportions,were as follows:Waist-to-hip-ratio(31.56%,95%CI:12.38%-50.70%),body mass index(19.20%,95%CI:12.03%-26.42%),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(12.81%,95%CI:8.65%-17.05%),and apolipoprotein A-1(7.70%,95%CI:4.32%-11.05%).These findings proved to be robust to sensitivity analyses.CONCLUSION Our findings indicate a causal relationship between lower levels of maternal education and the risk of developing GDM can be partly explained by adverse metabolic profiles.

Analysis of Undergraduates' Ideal and Belief Education under the Perspective of New Media

As modern information technology has developed rapidly and deepened into the field of education and teaching day by day,its impact on undergraduates' life,learning,and ideas has become increasingly widespread and in-depth. On the basis of an empirical investigation,the development of undergraduates' ideological and moral concepts,ideals and beliefs in the Internet era were analyzed. Using modern new media to educate undergraduates about their ideals and beliefs is of great significance to strengthen ideological and political education in colleges and universities.

An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Education Attainment and Economic Status of the Elderly Population in the Towns and Cities of China

Viewed from a macro scope,the cultureof a community is closely related to its econ-omy.Economy being the basis,the level ofeconomic growth determines the level ofcultural development.Conversely,culturecan act as the precursor and cultural devel-opment enhances economic growth.Likewise,the education attainment of an in-dividual reflects the same sort