Effectiveness of Early Detection Instruments for Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Tools for University Populations

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide. Although its clinical manifestations appear in older age, risk factors develop from an early stage, particularly in young university students. However, most cardiovascular risk screening tools have been designed for older adults, limiting their applicability in young populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Articles were searched for in PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO, Elsevier, and LILACS since 2015. Studies evaluating clinical, behavioral, or mixed instruments used for the early detection of cardiometabolic risk factors in young adults (18-30 years) were included. Psychometric properties, applicability, factors included, and validity of use in preventive settings were extracted. RESULTS: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and reported a high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors among young Ibero-American adults, including excess weight, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and unhealthy behaviors such as sedentarism and alcohol use. BMI showed limitations as a standalone marker, while complementary measures such as waist circumference, body composition, and hs-CRP improved early detection. DISCUSSION: The evidence reveals a lack of screening tools validated specifically for young adults in Chile. Therefore, this review supports the development of a national screening instrument to strengthen early cardiovascular prevention in this population.