Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in Luzerna, Santa Catarina, in 2006

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population of Luzerna, in the state of Santa Catarina. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with adults of both genders aged 20 to 59 years (n = 411). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, increased waist circumference, and smoking was estimated. Study variables were checked for frequency distribution, and a chi-square test for association was performed. RESULTS: The response rate was 85.9%. The following prevalences were found: hypertension: 14.7%; diabetes: 2.3%; dyslipidemia: 18.7%; obesity: 15.6%; increased waist circumference: 24.1%; and smoking: 15.6%. A total of 52.4% of the subjects had none of the risk factors; 22.4% had one risk factor, and 13.6%, 6.8%, and 4.9% had two, three, and four or more associated risk factors, respectively. CONCLUSION: The study sample showed low prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and less clustering of risk factors in the same individual, as compared with other data reported in the literature.