title: Prevalence of metabolic alterations predictive of cardiovascular disease risk in the Québec population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is well established that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in North America and in industrialized countries. Furthermore, the presence of CVD risk factors is widespread in Canada, and two-thirds of adult Canadians present at least one traditional risk factor for CVD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the prevalence of metabolic alterations predictive of an increased risk of CVD in a representative sample of the Québec population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of the Québec population was obtained through the Québec Health Survey 1990. The cohort of 1844 subjects (907 men and 937 women), aged from 18 to 74 years, completed the evaluation, which consisted of interviews, validated questionnaires for personal and family history of CVD risk factors, and a physical examination. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting plasma lipoprotein-lipid levels as well as fasting glucose and insulin concentrations were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty one per cent of the Québec population had a normal body weight defined by body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m2 with a healthy metabolic profile (glycemia less than 6.1 mmol/L, total cholesterol less than 5.2 mmol/L, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol less than 3.4 mmol/L, triglycerides less than 2.3 mmol/L and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol greater than 0.90 mmol/L). On the other hand, 28% of the population was treated for known metabolic chronic diseases (CVD, diabetes, dyslipidemias and hypertension), whereas the remaining 33% of the Québec population (BMI greater than 25 kg/m2) were characterized by an altered metabolic profile predictive of an increased CVD risk. Furthermore, 75% of men and 70% of women with an altered metabolic profile presented at least two CVD risk factors. Overall, women tended to display a significantly healthier metabolic risk profile than men (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our results, only 31% of the Québec population is nonobese without major alterations in their metabolic risk profile. Indeed, 61% of Quebecers are either characterized by chronic diseases or by an altered metabolic profile increasing their risk for the development of CVD and type 2 diabetes. Such a high prevalence should be a source of concern justifying the development of simple screening tools for early identification of the asymptomatic carriers of this cluster of metabolic abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Québec Heart Institute, Laval Hospital Research Centre, Sainte-Foy, Canada.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarsella
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alméras
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mauriège
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sauvé
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dewailly
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Després
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids