Subjective Health Assessment of College Students as a Predictor of Valeological Risk: Comparison with Photoplethysmography Data

Subjective health assessment is an important indicator of overall well-being that can influence health-related behaviors. In adolescence, this assessment does not always correspond to the objective state of the body, which poses a health risk. The purpose of the study is to carry out a comparative analysis of subjective health assessments of older adolescents and the objective state of their cardiovascular system. Materials and methods. The study involved 38 students (aged 15.8±0.3) from the Simferopol College of Service and Design. Subjective health assessment was determined with questionnaires using a visual analogue scale. Cardiovascular health was assessed using photoplethysmography. Results. It was found that 58.4% of the surveyed college students rate their health as good, 30.1% as satisfactory, and 7.5% as excellent. The respondents believe that health is determined by the absence of physical ailments, and they pay insufficient attention to the key components of health. An objective assessment of the cardiovascular system using an instrumental method revealed a number of issues in students: changes in hemodynamic parameters, vascular endothelial function, pulse wave patterns, saturation levels, and stress index. Signs of increased vascular wall stiffness were detected in 68.4% of the adolescents, indicating abnormalities in the vascular endothelium, leading to decreased elasticity and premature aging. In 73.7% of the adolescents, vascular age exceeded their rated age (average vascular age was 28.9 years). Premature vascular aging is caused by arterial wall remodeling manifested as increased vascular stiffness and altered pulse wave patterns. The findings indicate that despite understanding the importance of health, many adolescents overestimate their psychophysiological resources, and lack the motivation and skills to lead a healthy lifestyle, as well as the knowledge and practical experience necessary to reduce а valeological risk and improve health.