The natural history of cardiovascular risk factors in health professionals: 20-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the presence and evolution of cardiovascular risk factors in young people may significantly contribute to actions to modify the natural history of these risks and prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: To assess the presence and evolution of cardiovascular risk factors in health professionals over a 20-year period. METHODS: A group of individuals was evaluated when they first started graduate programs in medicine, nursing, nutrition, dentistry, and pharmacy, and 20 years later. Data obtained in the two phases were compared. Questionnaires about hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, family history of early-onset cardiovascular disease, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentary lifestyle were administered. Cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were measured. RESULTS: Of the 281 individuals (62.9 % women; mean age 19.7 years) initially analyzed, 215 (59.07 % women; mean age 39.8 years) were analyzed 20 years later. An increase in mean values of systolic (111.6 vs 118.7 mmHg- p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (71 vs 77.1 mmHg - p < 0.001), cholesterol (150.1 vs 182.4 mg/dL - p < 0.001), blood glucose (74.3 vs 81.4 mg/dL - p < 0.001) and BMI (20.7 vs 23.7 kg/m(2) - p = 0.017) was observed. Despite the decrease of sedentarism (50.2 vs 38.1 % - p = 0.015), the prevalence of hypertension (4.6 vs 18.6 % - p < 0.001), excessive weight (8.2 vs 32.1 % - p < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (7.8 vs 24.2 % - p < 0.001), and alcohol consumption (32.7 vs 34.9 % - p = 0.037) increased. There was no change in the prevalence of smoking. CONCLUSION: Health professionals presented an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, body mass index, and cholesterol over the 20-year study period. Regarding the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, increased blood pressure, overweight, hypercholesterolemia and alcohol consumption, and a decrease in sedentary lifestyle were observed.

Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors in different areas of health care over a 20-year period.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in young adults and their modification over time are measures that change the risks and prevent CVDs. OBJECTIVES: To determine the presence of CVRFs and their changes in different health care professionals over a period of 20 years. METHODS: All students of medicine, nursing, nutrition, odontology, and pharmacy departments of Federal University of Goiás who agreed to participate in this study were evaluated when they started their degree courses and 20 years afterward. Questionnaires on CVRFs [systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and family history of early CVD, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentarism] were administered. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, weight, height, and body mass index were determined. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate distribution, the chi-square test was used to compare different courses and sexes, and the McNemar test was used for comparing CVRFs. The significance level was set at a p value of < 0.05. RESULTS: The first stage of the study included 281 individuals (91% of all the students), of which 62.9% were women; the mean age was 19.7 years. In the second stage, 215 subjects were reassessed (76% of the initial sample), of which 59.07% were women; the mean age was 39.8 years. The sample mostly consisted of medical students (with a predominance of men), followed by nursing, nutrition, and pharmacy students, with a predominance of women (p < 0.05). Excessive weight gain, SAH, and dyslipidemia were observed among physicians and dentists (p < 0.05). Excessive weight gain and SAH and a reduction in sedentarism (p < 0.05) were observed among pharmacists. Among nurses there was an increase in excessive weight and alcohol consumption (p < 0.05). Finally, nutritionists showed an increase in dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In general, there was an unfavorable progression of CVRFs in the population under study, despite it having adequate specialized knowledge about these risk factors.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Different Areas of Health Care Over a 20-Year Period / Comparação entre Fatores de Risco Cardiovascular em Diferentes Áreas da Saúde num Intervalo de Vinte Anos

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Knowledge about cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in young adults and their modification over time are measures that change the risks and prevent CVDs. Objectives: To determine the presence of CVRFs and their changes in different health care professionals over a period of 20 years. Methods: All students of medicine, nursing, nutrition, odontology, and pharmacy departments of Federal University of Goiás who agreed to participate in this study were evaluated when they started their degree courses and 20 years afterward. Questionnaires on CVRFs [systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and family history of early CVD, smoking, alcohol consumption, and sedentarism] were administered. Cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, blood pressure, weight, height, and body mass index were determined. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate distribution, the chi-square test was used to compare different courses and sexes, and the McNemar test was used for comparing CVRFs. The significance level was set at a p value of < 0.05. Results: The first stage of the study included 281 individuals (91% of all the students), of which 62.9% were women; the mean age was 19.7 years. In the second stage, 215 subjects were reassessed (76% of the initial sample), of which 59.07% were women; the mean age was 39.8 years. The sample mostly consisted of medical students (with a predominance of men), followed by nursing, nutrition, and pharmacy students, with a predominance of women (p < 0.05). Excessive weight gain, SAH, and dyslipidemia were observed among physicians and dentists (p < 0.05). Excessive weight gain and SAH and a reduction in sedentarism (p < 0.05) were observed among pharmacists. Among nurses there was an increase in excessive weight and alcohol consumption (p < 0.05). Finally, nutritionists showed an increase ...

Fundamento: As doenças cardiovasculares (DCVs) são as principais causas de morte no mundo. O conhecimento sobre os fatores de risco cardiovasculares (FRCV) em jovens e suas alterações ao longo do tempo, podem contribuir para ações que modifiquem estes riscos e previnam o aparecimento das DCVs. Objetivos: Verificar, em diferentes profissionais da área da saúde, a presença e alterações nos fatores de risco cardiovasculares (FRCV) num intervalo de vinte anos. Métodos: Avaliados comparativamente ao ingressar na faculdade e vinte anos após, todos os alunos de medicina, enfermagem, nutrição, odontologia e farmácia de uma Universidade Federal que aceitaram participar. Utilizados questionários sobre FRCV (HAS, DM, dislipidemia e história familiar de DCV precoce, tabagismo, etilismo e sedentarismo). Determinados colesterol, glicemia, PA, peso, altura e IMC. Utilizados teste de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para avaliar distribuição, Qui-Quadrado para comparação entre cursos e sexos e McNemar para FRCV. Significante p < 0,05. Resultados: Inicialmente estudados 281 indivíduos (91% do total de alunos), sendo 62,9% mulheres, idade média 19,7 anos e reavaliados 215 (76% da amostra inicial), 59,07% mulheres, idade média 39,8 anos. Maior representatividade por estudantes de medicina, predomínio do sexo masculino entre eles, e predomínio do sexo feminino nos estudantes de enfermagem, nutrição e farmácia (p < 0,05). Entre os médicos e odontólogos houve aumento de excesso de peso, HAS e dislipidemia (p < 0,05). Entre os farmacêuticos, aumento de excesso de peso e HAS e redução do sedentarismo (p < 0,05). Entre os enfermeiros, elevou-se excesso de peso e etilismo (p < 0,05). Na nutrição, houve elevação da dislipidemia (p < 0,05). Conclusão: Encontrada ...