[Prevalence study of cardiovascular risk factors in a health area]

To calculate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity and tobacco dependency, in Health Area 20 of the Community of Valencia.

Cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study.

Population study carried out in Health Area 20 of the Community of Valencia (Vega Baja del río Segura county).

>=20 years-old people, living in this area. Multi-stage randomised sample proportional to the definition of sample quotas according to the kind of residence (urban, peri-urban or rural), age groups and sex. Calculated sample size of 2550 people. Pregnant women and people diagnosed with incapacitating psychiatric or physical illnesses (134) were excluded. The rest (2416) were included.

A questionnaire was filled out in a face-to-face interview and a basic physical examination was made. A blood sample was taken. The following variables were recorded: personal details, social and economic details, previous illnesses (cardiovascular, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, DM), tobacco habit, Body Mass Index, blood pressure, haemogram and standard biochemical test. The most recently agreed and recommended diagnostic criteria were used for each factor.

1886 people of the 2416 eligible took part (78.06%). Prevalence was as follows: hypertension, 30.3+/-2.1% (women, 34.1+/-2.9%; men, 25.8+/-2.9%); hypercholesterolaemia, 22.6+/-1.9%; diabetes, 8.4+/-1.2%; tobacco dependency, 33.6+/-2.1% (women, 25.4+/-2.7%; men, 42.2+/-3.3%; 20-39 years old age-group, 56.9+/-3.8%), and obesity, 31.6+/-2.1% (women, 34.6+/-2.9%; men, 28.1+/-3%; age group >=60 years old, 46.7+/-3.9%). Detection data were shown.

High presence of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes and obesity, greater than the country-wide level. Tobacco dependency was less common, though very high in young people. Known hypertension and obesity are more common in women than men.