title: Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in an urban adult population from southern Spain. IMAP Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in an urban population of Malaga, Spain and its relationship with educational level.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed with a random representative sample of 2270 individuals from the adult population (18–80 years) from a specific Health-Care Centre in Malaga City. All participants underwent a clinical interview, including social-demographical information and a physical examination. A blood sample was also drawn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the participants was 43.6 ± 15.6 years and 57.6% had a low educational level. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was: smoking 27.7%, hypertension 33.1%, diabetes 7.1% and dyslipidaemia 65.4%. Over 60% were either overweight or obese, and 76.7% had a sedentary lifestyle. Except for smoking and a low-HDL cholesterol, the prevalence of the other cardiovascular risk factors increased with age. A low educational level was associated with a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, and this association was significant with regard to smoking, obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The population studied presents a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, especially dyslipidaemia and obesity. The low academic level was associated with an increased prevalence of smoking, obesity and dyslipidaemia. People with a low socio-cultural level are a priority target for introducing policies to prevent and control cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gomez-Huelgas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mancera-Romero
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bernal-Lopez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jansen-Chaparro
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baca-Osorio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Perez-Gonzalez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guijarro-Merino
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tinahones
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martinez-Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health