Trends in Prevalence of Risk Factors and Global Cardiovascular Risk in General Population of Albacete, Spain (1992-94 a 2004-06)

Background: To establish strategies for prevention of cardiovascular disease implies to know its epidemiology and evolution in time. The objective of this study is to know the prevalence of risk factors and cardiovascular risk in two moments during the following of a grownup general population. Methods: Study of cohorts, followed at random selected general population during 12 years (1992-94 to 2204-06). Two transversal studies were made, one at the beginning and the other one at the end of this follow-up. The population in this study was 18 years and older registered in the province of Albacete. andom sampling, stratified and two-stage. The sample size for the first cut was 2121 subjects and for second one 1577. One specific anamnesis was made, physical examination, measurement of blood pressure, electrocardiogram and extraction of venous blood. The studied variables were: age, sex, personal and familiar antecedents, risk factors and global cardiovascular risk. Results: 1322 subjects went to the appointment for the first examination (mean age 48.2 years. 53.6% women) and 997 for the second (mean age 52.8 years. 56.7% women). Has Increased the prevalence of hypertension (32.7% to 41,2%), diabetes (9,8 to 11,4%), obesity (27,8 to 34,3%) and hypercolesterolemia (47,5 to 53,5%), whereas smokers have decreased (32,6 to 23,7%) and have handicapped the average values of arterial pressure (132/81 to 129/73 mmHg), glycaemia (100,8 to 92,8 mg/dl) and LDL-cholesterol (128,7 to 116,7 mg/dl) and also a lowering of cardiovascular risk with Framingham (10,8% to 8,2%) and Score (2,3% to 1,6%). Conclusions: In the last years an increasing prevalence of risk factors has been seen (hypertension, diabetes and hypercolesterolemia), a better control of them, and lower prevalence of smoking and cardiovascular risk in the population has also be seen.