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Sex differences in risk factors for coronary heart disease: a study in a Brazilian population

V S Castanho1, L S Oliveira, H P Pinheiro

  • 1Dept. of Clinical Pathology, School of Medicine, Center for Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Campinas São Paulo, Brazil.

BMC Public Health
|April 18, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors are highly prevalent in Brazil. Women show higher rates of high blood cholesterol and hypertension, potentially explaining higher female CHD mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in Brazil for both sexes.
  • Brazil exhibits one of the world's smallest sex differences in CHD mortality due to high rates in women.
  • The study investigates sex-based differences in CHD risk factor prevalence in Brazil.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of CHD risk factors between men and women in Brazil.
  • To evaluate the relationships between blood cholesterol and other risk factors.
  • To understand the contribution of risk factor distribution to sex-based mortality disparities.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study comparing prevalence of CHD risk factors between sexes.
  • Evaluation of risk factors including high blood cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and cigarette smoking.
  • Analysis of associations between blood cholesterol and other risk factors (BMI, sex, age, hypertension, physical inactivity).

Main Results:

  • High frequencies of all evaluated CHD risk factors were observed in the population.
  • High blood cholesterol and hypertension were more prevalent in women than men.
  • Hypertension, diabetes, and smoking were equally or more prevalent in pre-menopausal women compared to men; obesity and inactivity were equally prevalent across sexes.

Conclusions:

  • The high prevalence of CHD risk factors necessitates urgent control measures.
  • Higher or equal prevalence of several risk factors in women may partially explain elevated CHD mortality rates in females.
  • Findings highlight the importance of sex-specific strategies for CHD prevention and control in Brazil.
Abstract

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