[Ischemic heart disease and correlates in adults from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil]

To identify the prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and correlates in an adult population.

Cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study including a weighted sample of 2,471 adults of both sexes and with age 30 years or older residing in Ribeirão Preto, Southeastern Brazil, in 2007. The Rose Questionnaire was administered, and IHD prevalence was calculated with point estimates and 95% confidence intervals. To identify correlates (sociodemographic, cardiovascular risk factors, and those related to access to health services and to physical activity level), crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression.

IHD prevalence was higher in females than males at all age strata. In the final model, the following variables were independently associated with IHD: work status (PR= 0.54 [0.37;0.78]); family history of IHD (PR=1.55 [1.12;2.13]); hypertension (PR= 1.70 [1.18;2.46]); self-reported health status (PR=2.15 [1.40;3.31]); smoking duration (third tertile) (PR= 1.73 [1.08;2.76]); adjusted waist circumference (PR=1.79 [1.21;2.65]) and hypertriglyceridemia (PR=1.48 [1.05;2.10]). Linear trend test of PR across self-reported health status categories was statistically significant (p<0.05).

A high prevalence of IHD was found, and the factors associated with the outcome are almost all modifiable and potentially influenced by public policy interventions.