title: Cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle, and social determinants: a cross-sectional population study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The influence of socioeconomic development is often disregarded in epidemiological studies into the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the relationship between major cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic indicators.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, population-wide study in primary care practices in the health area of Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2833 people aged 25-79 years (mean age 51.2 years), representative of the population, participated in the study. The prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking, and sedentary behaviour, according to level of education and employment status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors related to the level of education and employment status. Females who had not studied at university had a higher risk of obesity (OR = 2.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5 to 4.2), smoking (OR 2.5, 95% CI = 1.7 to 3.7), and sedentary behaviour (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.5 to 3.9) than females with a university education. Males who had not studied at university showed an increased risk of smoking (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.4 to 3.1), arterial hypertension (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0 to 2.4), hypercholesterolaemia (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0 to 2.2), and obesity (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0 to 2.3) than males with a university education. The risk of obesity was higher in unemployed females than those in paid employment (OR =1.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 1.9), but they showed a lower risk of smoking (OR = 0.7, 95% CI = 0.5 to 0.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study results confirm an inverse association between the level of education and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Public health studies and interventions are needed to understand this association and develop interventions targeted at the population that is at greatest risk.
authors.affiliation: Teaching and Research Unit, Extremadura Health Service, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palomo
authors.affiliation: Villanueva Norte Health Centre, Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco-Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Félix-Redondo
authors.affiliation: Urbano 1 Health Centre, Mérida, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lozano-Mera
authors.affiliation: Teaching unit, Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena Department of Health, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: José-Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pérez-Castán
authors.affiliation: Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena Department of Health, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández-Berges
authors.affiliation: La Paz University Health Centre, Badajoz, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buitrago
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cardiovascular disease; employment status; primary care; risk factors; social inequalities; socioeconomic status