Gender Differences in Major Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Mexican Adults.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Unhealthy lifestyle choices like poor diet and inactivity are significant contributors to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease often precede major cardiovascular events.
• Understanding the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Mexico is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of Mexican adults experiencing cardiovascular events.
• To update evidence on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors within the Mexican adult population.
• To identify associations between specific risk factors and cardiovascular disease diagnoses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative study.
• Included adults aged 20 years and older with pre-existing chronic conditions.
• Employed logistic regression to analyze associations between risk factors and CVD, calculating adjusted odds ratios.

Main Results:

• Women presented higher prevalence of obesity (38.6%), diabetes (17.4%), dyslipidemia (88.5%), and myocardial infarction history (19.5%) compared to men.
• Women and individuals aged 50-59 years were more likely to have multiple concurrent risk factors.
• Obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in women were significantly associated with increased likelihood of CVD diagnosis (aOR = 2.6).

Conclusions:

• Cardiovascular event prevalence was similar across sexes, but distinct risk factor profiles were observed.
• Current pharmacological treatments are insufficient to meet therapeutic goals for managing cardiovascular risk.
• Targeted interventions addressing specific risk factor profiles in women may be necessary for effective CVD prevention.