Prevalence of Atherosclerotic Risk Factors in an Elderly Community of Low Social Condition

Journal of Clinical and Basic Cardiology 2003; 6 (1-4): 41-44

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Keywords: Co-Faktor,  Prävalenz,  soziale Klasse,  älterer Mensch,  atherosclerosis,  cardiology,  elderly,  prevalence,  risk factor,  Social Class

The objective of preventive cardiology in elderly people is to delay as much as possible cardiovascular complications that can contribute to a still premature death. This can be done by controlling cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a community of elderly women of low social condition from Vitoria-Gasteiz. We studied a sample of 302 women older than 65 years from Vitoria-Gasteiz. The examination included these parameters amongst others: two blood pressure measurements following WHO normatives, weight and height, lifestyle questionnaire, ECG and blood sample to determine blood lipids, glucose and uric acid. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors observed were as follows: hypertension 47 %, which increases up to 58.6 % if we consider effective antihypertensive treatment (WHO) and 77.8 % (JNC-V), total cholesterol >= 240 mg/dl (6.2 mmol/l) 45.8 %, LDL-c >= 150 mg/dl (3.87 mmol/l) 58.6 %, triglycerides >= 200 mg/dl (2.3 mmol/l) 7.7 %, HDL-c < 35 mg/dl (0.9 mmol/l) 2.7 %, glucose >= 120 mg/dl (6.66 mmol/l) 29.7 %, uric acid >= 6 mg/dl (0.36 mmol/l) 33.1 %, overweight (BMI: 25–29.9 kg/m2) 36.8 %, obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m2) 32.1 %, smoking (> 10 cigarretes) 4.0 %, alcohol consumption (> 20 g/d) 8.2 %, LVH (ECG) 16.9 % and 45 % physical inactivity. Only 2 % of the tested women did not have any risk factor, 4 % presented one, and the rest presented two or more cardiovascular risk factors. We can observe a very high prevalence of risk factors in this community of low social condition, higher than other studies made in elderly individuals. We think it is necessary to adopt preventive measures in this population, in order to decrease cardiovascular disease and to improve quality of life.