[An epidemiological study on cardiovascular risk factors in 35-64 years old Spanish population]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), specifically Coronary Health Disease and Cerebrovascular Disease, are the first cause of death in Spain. Information about their main modifiable risk factors (RF) distribution is needed in order to CVD prevention. The purpose of this paper is to estimate these RF prevalence and distribution by age, sex and habitat groups, i.e. tobacco smoking, cholesterolemia, high blood pressure, and obesity in the Spanish population.

A random cluster sampling cross-sectional study, stratified by habitat (rural and urban), age and sex, was carried out on 2021 men and women of 35 to 64 years of age in 1989. Definition criteria for variables studied were those from WHO and European Atherosclerosis Society. Additional data for study were treatment and control level of hypertensives, cardiovascular drugs consumption and CVD family history.

Participation rate was 73.3%. Mean cholesterolemia was 211.2 mg/dl (210.1 mg/dl in males and 211.9 mg/dl in females). Mean systolic blood pressure was 132.3 mmHg (133.4 and 131.6 mmHg in men and women, respectively). Mean Quetelet Index was 27.5 kg/m2 (27.2 and 27.6 for men and women). 49.4% of males and 16.7% of females were smokers (25.7% and 78.3% were never smokers, respectively). Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (> or = 250 mg/dl) was 18.6% in men and 17.6% in women, and that of high blood pressure (> or = 160/95 mmHg) was 21.5% in men (49.1% of them treated, and 26.7% controlled), and 19% in women (60.9% treated and 38% controlled). 18.4% of men and 27.4% of women had a Quetelet Index greater than thirty. 15 to 20% of individuals reported a CVD family history. For all these variables there were generally differences according to age, sex, and habitat.

Risk factors distributions and prevalences in Spanish middle-aged individuals rank relatively high. This suggest need of further study and control of them to address CVD prevention properly.