title: Clustering of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among women in Southern Brazil: a population-based study.
abstract: The association between clustering of risk factors and self-reported cardiovascular disease among women was investigated in a cross-sectional study using a multistage population-based sample. Participants were interviewed at home about diabetes mellitus, physical activity, and diet pattern. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure > or =140/90mmHg or use of anti-hypertensive medication. Cardiovascular disease included self-reported myocardial infarction, heart failure, coronary artery bypass surgery, and stroke. A sample of 1,007 women from Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, mostly white (73%), 44.8 +/- 0.8 years old, and with 9.3 +/- 0.3 years of schooling was investigated. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, low fruit and vegetable intake, and lack of vigorous or moderate physical activity were clustered into a combination of risk factors, which were independently associated with self-reported cardiovascular disease. The main cluster included hypertension and diabetes, accounting for an independent risk ratio of 8.5 (95%CI: 3.0-24.5). Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is strongly associated with self-reported cardiovascular disease among women.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil. scfuchs@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Sandra Costa
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Leila Beltrami
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Susi Alves
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Camey
authors.forename: Marina Beltrami
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Flávio Danni
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Fuchs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013577:Syndrome; D055815:Young Adult