Abstract

GIROTTO, Carlos A.; VACCHINO, Marta N.; SPILLMANN, Cynthia A.  and  SORIA, Jorge A.. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in first year university students. Rev. Saúde Pública [online]. 1996, vol.30, n.6, pp. 576-586. ISSN 0034-8910.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89101996000600012.

The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and their relation to a self-reported family history of disease was examined in 3,357 first year university students of Mar del Plata University (Argentine). The prevalence of family disease was 27.5% for hypercholesterolemia, 42.1% for hypertension, 26.9% for diabetes mellitus, 27.2% for obesity and 42.1% for cardiovascular disease. The percentual of 80.7% of the population surveyed showed at least one of these diseases in their previous family history. The prevalence of hypertension (systolic blood pressure levels 140 mmHg) or/and diastolic blood pressure levels 90 mmHg) was 7.0%. Hypertension was related to Body Mass Index (BMI), male sex and age. The percentual of 14.4% presented hypercholesterolemia ( 210 mg/dl), which was associated with age, BMI and family history of obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Nine hundred and eleven subjects (27.1%) were smokers. Differences related to sex were not found. Smoking was positively related to age and the career they had chosen. The examination detected one hundred and twenty-three (3.7%) students with cardiac problems. This was associated with a family history of cardiovascular disease. Preventive measures were suggested.

Keywords : Cardiovascular diseases [epidemiology]; Risk factors; Students.