Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Population of the Area I in the Municipality of Cienfuegos

• Main Authors: Hilda María Delgado Acosta, Karelis Lastre Navarro, María Lina Valdés Gómez, Mikhail Benet Rodríguez, Alain Morejón Giraldoni
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidad de las Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos 2014-07-01
• Series: Revista Finlay
• Subjects: enfermedades cardiovasculares; prevalencia; factores de riesgo hipertensión
• Online Access: http://revfinlay.sld.cu/index.php/finlay/article/view/283

<strong>Background:</strong> since the beginning of the epidemiological transition, there was a prevalence of morbidity and mortality from non communicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular disease. <strong><br />Objective:</strong> to identify the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of the Area I in the municipality of Cienfuegos during 2010-2011. <strong><br />Methods:</strong> a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population of the Area I in Cienfuegos by means of a complex three-stage equal probability sample of 581 people. The sampling units consisted of districts, areas and sections containing the dwellings where the subjects were chosen. A survey with the following variables was applied: age, sex, marital status, skin color, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, smoking, physical activity, food intake (fruits, vegetables and fat), body mass index and waist circumference.<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> 35-44-year age group and female sex predominated, as well as white married individuals. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus and smoking was 6.4% and 28.6%, respectively. Only 26.2% of the respondents were engaged in adequate physical activity. Consumption of fruits was 61.3%. Prevalence of hypertension was 33.8%. <strong><br />Conclusions:</strong> The risk factors were more prevalent in females, except for smoking and hypertension; they were more evident with increasing age. Role of hypertension as a tracer condition closely related to cardiovascular risk factors was demonstrated.