Cardiovascular risk factors in a sample of a rural Belgian population: the Bellux MONICA Study.
A sample of 1949 subjects of the population of the Belgian province of Luxembourg was screened for levels of cardiovascular risk factors. Cigarette smoking was more prevalent among males (51%) than among females (17%). The relationship between smoking and socio-economic status was inverse in males (M) and direct in females (F). Blood pressure (BP) measurements showed definite high BP in 10% of this sample, and 60% of those with definite high BP were not taking any hypertensive drugs. The average total cholesterol value was 6.49 mmol/L in M and 6.45 mmol/L in F. F had lower values than M at a younger age, but higher values than M at an older age. The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was higher in F (1.57 mmol/L) than in M (1.27 mmol/L). Diabetes was present in 4.2% of this sample. In nearly half of these participants, the disease had been discovered during the screening. Obesity was especially frequently among F in all three age groups. In conclusion, the main cardiovascular risk factors were found to be at a fairly high level in this population sample.
Brohet
C
C
Association Interuniversitaire pour la Prévention des Maladies Cardio-Vasculaires, Brussels, Belgium.
Janssens
D
D
Beck
D
D
Hannut
R
R
Kulbertus
H
H
Lavenne
F
F
Lefebvre
P J
PJ
Rorive
G
G
Jeanjean
M F
MF
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D002784:Cholesterol