Objective:

To determine the self-perception of nutritional status and cardiovascular risk (CVR) of ethnic groups in La Guajira, Colombia.

Materials and methods:

Descriptive-cross-sectional study in 233 adult individuals from urban areas in three municipalities of La Guajira. Self-perception of nutritional status, intention to engage in physical activity (PA), nutritional status, calculating body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular risk through waist-hip index [Ci/Ca]) were evaluated, these were related to ethnic group (Afro-Colombian, indigenous and non-ethnic) and socioeconomic stratum (1, 2 and >3). Odd Ratios (OR) were calculated to determine the relationship between CVR and the rest of the variables.

Results:

56.7% of the sample were women, 38.2% were Afro-Colombian, 32.2% were indigenous population. 65.2 % did not consider doing PA and 58.4 % presented a self-perception of their nutritional status as normal. It was also found that only 39.5 % had a normal BMI; 48.5 % had a high CVR. A high CVR was observed in Afro-Colombian (OR= 3.22; 95 % CI 1.3-7.8) and indigenous women (OR= 4.35; 95 % CI 1.7-10.9) compared to non-ethnic women (OR= 1, reference condition); likewise, a higher CVR in overweight and obese women and men (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

there is a high prevalence of CVR in the population of La Guajira, especially in Afro-Colombian and indigenous women, with BMI being an indicator associated with CVR in them.

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