[Cardiovascular risk factors in Spanish population: metaanalysis of cross-sectional studies].
OBJECTIVE
To review published studies on the prevalence of the main vascular risk factors -hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity and tobacco smoking- in Spain, and to combine their results in an estimate for the Spanish population.


METHODS
After a bibliographic search, the studies fulfilling the following inclusion criteria were selected: cross-sectional design, sampling on Spanish population, results including prevalence data of at least one of the above mentioned risk factors, and objective [corrected] (not self-referred) determination of arterial blood pressure, total serum cholesterol, basal glucose, weight, size and body mass index. The combined prevalence was obtained by means of the random effects model, including weight for the proportion that the studied population supposes on the total Spanish population.


RESULTS
Forty-eight studies were identified including a total of 130.945 subjects. According to these studies, the most frequent vascular risk factors were hypertension in the elderly (66.7%, CI 59-74%), overweight/obesity in adult women (48,3%, CI 41-55%) and smoking among men (41.1%, CI 38-44%). In the Spanish population as a whole, 23% showed total cholesterol levels above 250 mg/dl; 33% were smokers (41,1% in men and 24% in women); 34% suffered hypertension; 20% were obese (18% in men and 23% in women); and diabetes affected 8% women and 12% men.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular risk in Spain is high. Monitoring the vascular risk factors at a population level is basic for preventive and health care measures.
Medrano
M José
MJ
Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. pmedrano@isciii.es
Cerrato
Elena
E
Boix
Raquel
R
Delgado-Rodríguez
Miguel
M
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology