Relation of obesity and cardiovascular risk in Spain

Area of Science:

• Cardiology and Public Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality in Spain.
• High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, and diabetes, contributes significantly to CVDs.
• The clustering of cardio-metabolic risk factors amplifies individual global cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of obesity and overweight on other cardiovascular risk factors.
• To establish the relative contribution of obesity to an individual's overall cardiovascular risk.
• To develop a model for calculating global cardiovascular risk in the Spanish population.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of epidemiological studies involving approximately 15,000 Spanish adults across nine autonomous communities.
• Assessment of the prevalence of various cardiovascular risk factors.
• Development of a qualitative-quantitative model integrating risk factor prevalence and relative risks.

Main Results:

• Quantified the prevalence of key cardiovascular risk factors in the Spanish adult population.
• Determined the relative weight of obesity and overweight in the context of other cardiovascular risk factors.
• Established associations between obesity, overweight, and other cardio-metabolic risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Obesity and overweight play a significant role in increasing overall cardiovascular risk in Spain.
• The developed model provides a tool for calculating global cardiovascular risk tailored to the Spanish population.
• Understanding the interplay of risk factors, particularly obesity, is crucial for public health strategies targeting CVD prevention.