Cardiovascular Risk Distribution in a Contemporary Polish Collective
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Anita Liput-Sikora1, Anna Maria Cybulska2, Wiesława Fabian1
1Primary Care Center (NZOZ Przychodnia Medycyny Rodzinnej SJ), ul. Kadłubka 10-11, 71-521 Szczecin, Poland.
Insights
Men in a primary-care prevention program showed higher cardiovascular disease risk factors and incident risk, necessitating targeted interventions. This study highlights the need for specific preventive measures for men to mitigate risks like hypertension and dyslipidemia.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a leading cause of mortality globally.
- Primary care settings offer a crucial opportunity for early detection and prevention of CVD risk factors.
- Understanding the prevalence of CVD risk factors and estimated risk in specific populations is vital for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of key cardiovascular disease risk factors in a primary care population.
- To estimate the 10-year risk of a cardiovascular incident using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm.
- To analyze differences in risk factors and SCORE results based on sex and age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical documentation from 2009 primary care patients enrolled in a CVD prevention program.
- Data collection included anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profiles, fasting glucose, and SCORE algorithm calculations.
- Statistical analysis compared risk factor prevalence and SCORE results between sexes and age groups.
Main Results:
- Men exhibited significantly higher rates of overweight, obesity, hyperglycemia, and elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides compared to women (p < 0.001).
- Men had statistically significant higher SCORE results, indicating a greater risk of cardiovascular incidents (p < 0.001).
- The 35-year-old age group constituted the largest segment (27%) of the study sample.
Conclusions:
- Men in this primary care cohort present with a higher burden of cardiovascular disease risk factors and a greater estimated risk of cardiovascular events.
- Targeted preventive strategies focusing on hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and other modifiable risk factors are essential for men.
- The findings underscore the importance of sex-specific approaches in cardiovascular disease prevention programs.
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of selected risk factors for cardiovascular disease (hypertension, overweight, obesity, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, a positive family history, a lack of physical activity), and to estimate the risk of a cardiovascular incident according to the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) algorithm for patients aged 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 years, included in a primary-care prevention program, with regard to selected variables (sex and age brackets). The study sample consisted of 2009 subjects, 63% of whom were women. The largest group was the group of 35-year-olds (27%). The research method was the analysis of medical documentation of primary-care patients living in West Pomerania included in the Program of Prevention and Early Detection of Cardiovascular Disease of the National Health Fund. We collected data concerning risk factors for cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, anthropometric measurements (arm circumference, waist circumference, height, weight), body mass index (BMI), and the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and fasting glucose, as well as the SCORE results. Men more often than women were overweight and obese, had hyperglycemia, and had elevated levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (p < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant difference in the odds of a cardiovascular incident (p < 0.001)-the SCORE results obtained by men were higher. Men require special preventive measures in order to reduce their risk factors for cardiovascular disease, especially hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, overweight, obesity, smoking, and a positive family history.
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