Cardiovascular Risk Profile on the Island of Santiago-Cabo Verde (PrevCardio.CV Study)

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cerebrocardiovascular diseases represent a significant global health burden.
• Non-communicable diseases are the primary cause of illness and death in Cabo Verde.
• Understanding risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of cerebrocardiovascular disease risk factors in adults on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde.
• To investigate the association between these risk factors and cardiac electrical alterations.
• To inform public health strategies for disease prevention.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted on Santiago Island.
• Simple random sampling included 599 adults aged 18 and above.
• Data collected via questionnaires, blood pressure, and glucose measurements.

Main Results:

• High prevalence of physical inactivity (65.1%) and elevated BMI (42.6%).
• Hypertension (32.6%) and family history (19.9%) were also common.
• A significant portion of the population (26.9%) had three or more risk factors.

Conclusions:

• Santiago Island exhibits a high burden of cerebrocardiovascular disease risk factors.
• Females and specific age groups show particular vulnerability.
• Urgent public health interventions are needed to mitigate these risks.