Comparison of the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors between Quebec and other Canadian provinces: the Canadian heart health surveys.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of different cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors between Quebec, a Canadian Province with a population of mainly French descendants, and other Canadian provinces.


METHODS
Cross-sectional surveys in the ten Canadian provinces using stratified, two-stage, replicated probability samples from health insurance registries.


METHODS
A total of 2,353 Quebec residents and 20,776 other Canadians aged 18 to 74 years were surveyed.


METHODS
Standardized interviews and measurement of CVD risk factors.


RESULTS
Compared with other provinces, Quebec had a higher prevalence of smoking, (32% vs 25%), dyslipidemia (48% vs 43%), a similarly sedentary lifestyle (37% vs 38%), a lower prevalence of hypertension (19% vs 23%) and body mass index > or =27 (28% vs 33%). Prevalence of two of the above risk factors was greater in Quebec (29%) than in the other provinces (25%). The difference in the prevalence of dyslipidemia between Quebec and the other provinces remained after stratification by body mass index and smoking status. Combination of risk factors differed between Quebec and the other provinces.


CONCLUSIONS
Different genetic backgrounds, cultural influences occurring at different times among different age groups, as well as different trends in CVD risk factors and their interaction may explain why cross-sectional surveys cannot fully explain the differences in CVD mortality between ethnic groups. Given these differences in CVD risk factors between Quebec and other provinces, the relatively high level of all risk factors in Canada justifies increased focus on the Canadian Heart Health Initiative and attention to regional and ethnic differences when addressing CVD risk factors.
Joffres
M R
MR
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Michel.Joffres@dal.ca
MacLean
D R
DR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors