Prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de la Universidad Austral de Chile Translated title: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in workers from Universidad Austral de Chile

Abstract

Antecedentes: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) constituyen la principal causa de muerte a nivel mundial. En Chile, al igual que en otros países latinoamericanos, se han observado incrementos en las prevalencias de los principales factores de riesgo para estas enfermedades en la población general. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) en funcionarios de la Universidad Austral de Chile y evaluar su relación con la edad y sexo. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal realizado el año 2012. Se aplicó un cuestionario de estilos de vida y caracterización socio-económica. Se determinaron las características antropométricas (índice de masa corporal y circunferencia de cintura) y metabólicas (glicemia, perfil lipídico y presión arterial). Resultados: Se evaluaron 258 participantes (55,4% hombres). Se observó 31,8% de obesidad, 38,9% obesidad abdominal, 31,6% colesterol total elevado, 45,2% colesterol HDL disminuido, 34,4% triglicéridos elevados, 7,4% diabetes, 29,6% hipertensión, 35,6% síndrome metabólico, 23,6% actividad física insuficiente. Conclusiones: La población estudiada presenta alta prevalencia de los principales FRCV, los que aumentan con la edad, siendo esta asociación similar para ambos sexos.

Translated abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the first cause of death worldwide. Latin American countries including Chile has experience an increment in the prevalence of risk factors for CVDs. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in workers from Universidad Austral de Chile and to evaluate its relation with age and sex. Subjects and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012 in 258 participants (55% males). Lifestyle and socio-economic questionnaire were applied and anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and metabolic markers (glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure) were measured in all participants. Results: Overall, 31.8% were obese, 38.9% had central obesity, 31.6% had high total cholesterol, 45.2% had lower HDL cholesterol, 34.4% had higher triglycerides, 7.4% had diabetes, 29.6% had hypertension, 35.6% had metabolic syndrome and 23.6% were physically inactive. Conclusions: The study population shows a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. These cardiovascular risk factors increase with age, however this increase did not differ by sex.