Evolución del riesgo cardiovascular y sus factores en Temuco entre 1989 y 2011-12 / Cardiovascular risk factors among males in 1989 and 2011-12 in a southern Chilean city

Background: A successful cardiovascular prevention program should induce a reduction of risk factors along time. Aim: To assess changes in cardiovascular risk factors among males aged between 35 and 65 years living in Southern Chile. Material and Methods: The results of two cross sectional household surveys, with a probability sampling stratified by socioeconomic status, were analyzed. Two hundred males were evaluated in 1989 and 800 in 2011-12, paired by age for selection. Results: In the second survey, a mean weight increase of 4.5 kg was recorded. Body mass index increased from 27.1 to 28.6 kg/m² (p < 0.01), especially in men younger than 45 years old. No changes in smoking prevalence were observed. The prevalence of hypertension and hypertensive patients in treatment increased from 32.7 to 38.1% and from 17 to 33%, respectively. The number of treated hypertensive patients with a well-controlled blood pressure did not change significantly. In 1989 and 2011-12, mean total cholesterol values were 192 and 201 mg/dl respectively (p < 0.01). The figures for mean non-HDL cholesterol were 152 and 160 mg/dl (p = 0.03). The frequency of people with total cholesterol over 240 mg/dl or using statins increased from 15 to 25% (p < 0.01). The estimated 10 years risk of myocardial infarction and coronary death using Framingham tables was 9,0 in both periods (p = 0.95). Conclusions: In a 22 years period an increase in the prevalence of obesity and elevated total cholesterol was observed. There was a higher proportion of individuals treated for hypertension and dyslipidemia, but without reduction in the estimated cardiovascular risk.

Nivel de actividad física medida a través del cuestionario internacional de actividad física en población Chilena / Levels of physical activity in an urban population from Temuco, Chile

Background: Physical activity plays a crucial role in the protection against cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To assess the level of physical activity in a group of subjects living in urban Temuco. Material and Methods: Cross sectional study in a random sample of 1091 women aged 52 ± 10 years and 444 men aged 54 ± 10 years , living in Temuco, Chile. The level of physical activity was measured using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Age, gender, educational and socioeconomic level were also determined in study subjects. Results: Median energy expenditure was 2150 and 1600 MET-minute/ week in men and women, respectively (p = 0,001). It decreased with age from a median of 1965 MET-minute/ week in those younger than 50 years old to 1647 MET-minute/ week among subjects aged between 51 and 60 years old and to 1485 MET-minute/ week among those older than 60 years. (p = 0,001). The frequency of high, moderate and low physical activity levels were 15.6, 66 and 18.4 percent respectively. These levels were associated with gender, age, educational and socioeconomic level. Conclusions: There was a high frequency of low and moderate levels of physical activity in the urban population of Temuco, associated with female gender, advanced age and middle socioeconomic level.