EPIDEMIOLOGY OF CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE RISK-FACTORS IN CATALONIA (SPAIN)

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most important public health prob lems in developed countries. We have studied the epidemiology of the f ollowing cardiovascular disease risk factors in a random sample (n = 7 04) of the adult population of Catalonia (Spain): hypercholesterolemia (greater-than-or-equal-to 6.1 mmol/l or 240 mg/dl), hypertension (SBP greater-than-or-equal-to 160 and/or DBP greater-than-or-equal-to 95 m mHg), low HDL-cholesterol concentrations (< 0.9 mmol/l or 35 mg/dl), h ypertriglyceridemia (> 2.8 mmol/l or 250 mg/dl), obesity (BMI > 30), s moking and history of diabetes and coronary heart disease. Two percent of participants had hypertriglyceridemia, 3% had a history of coronar y heart disease, 4% a history of diabetes, 6% low HDL-cholesterol conc entrations, 12% were obese, 20% had hypertension, 24% had hypercholest erolemia and 36% were smokers. 58% of hypertensive individuals had bee n previously detected, 46% were currently on treatment, and 21% had th eir blood pressure controlled (SBP < 160 and DBP < 95 mmHg). Correlati on and multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the assoc iation between cardiovascular risk factors. Multiple linear regression analysis showed independent correlations between risk factors. Preval ence of hypercholesterolemia, obesity and diabetes was higher and prev alence of smoking was lower in hypertensives than normotensives. The o dds ratio was 3.68 (95% CI = 2.07-6.54) for hypercholesterolemia, 3.26 (95% CI = 1.52-7.02) for obesity, 3.81 (95% CI = 1.09-7.02) for diabe tes and 0.40 (95% CI = 0.22-0.70) for smoking. The adjusted odds ratio was statistically significant for hypercholesterolemia (OR = 2.74, 95 % CI = 1.01-3.75). The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was s imilar to that observed in other Mediterranean communities. The associ ation between cardiovascular risk factors shows that there are biologi cal interrelations between risk factors that influence the development of arteriosclerosis.