Abstract

FERNANDO, Manzur  and  ARRIETA, Carlos O. Sociological study for detection of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in the Colombian Caribbean Coast population. Rev. Col. Cardiol. [online]. 2005, vol.12, n.3, pp.122-128. ISSN 0120-5633.

Introduction and objectives: the objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge that the population has about the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and to study the prevalence percentages of these factors in the colombian Caribbean population. Methodology: we took a randomized representative sample of 2023 patients through a systematic test in the city of Cartagena and nearby towns, totalizing an approximate population of 1’200.000 people who were reported and correlated to the following items: age, sex, educational level, cigarette smoking, arterial pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, triglycerides (dyslipidemia), alcoholism, stress (anxiety-depression), obesity, electrocardiogram, myocardial infarction, sedentary life, cardiovascular disease inheritance, patients under cardiovascular treatment, angina and heart failure. Results: as a result of a total of 2.023 surveys, the mean age was of 47 years. 59,7% were women and 40,3% men. According to the educational level, 32% had primary education, 19,9% were professionals, and 20,6% technicians. 25,1% had dyslipidemia (elevated cholesterol and/or triglycerides). 11,8% had diabetes. 21% were obese and 10,1% had had an anginous episode. Only 7% had heart failure and 1,4% had had myocardial infarction. 15,4% were cigarette smokers; 5,1% had ECG abnormalities; 24,2% had stress episodes and an elevated percentage, 37,4% had a sedentary life. Conclusion: the prevalence of risk factors in this study is similar to the reported in other studies in occidental countries. We found a significant difference in the sedentary life according to educational levels. We noticed an increment of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in correlation to age; this allows us to adopt measures in order to modify the life style and in this way decrease the risks for cardiovascular diseases.

Keywords : factors; cardiovascular diseases; arterial hypertension; diabetes mellitus; obesity; cigarette smoking; sedentary life style.

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