title: Cardiovascular Risk and Its Associated Factors in Health Care Workers in Colombia: A Study Protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, for this reason, they are a public health problem. In Colombia, cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of mortality, having a death rate of 152 deaths per 100,000 population. There are 80% of these cardiovascular events that are considered avoidable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of the cardiovascular risk and its associated factors among the institution's workers in order to design and implement interventions in the work environment which may achieve a decrease in such risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical cross-sectional study was designed to determine the cardiovascular risk and its associated factors among workers of a high complexity health care institution. A self-applied survey will be conducted considering sociodemographic aspects, physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, level of perceived stress, and personal and family history. In a second appointment, a physical examination will be made, as well as anthropometric measurements and blood pressure determination. Also, blood samples for evaluating total and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting blood sugar will be taken. A ten-year global risk for cardiovascular disease will be determined using the Framingham score. A descriptive analysis of the population's characteristics and a stratified analysis by sex, age, and occupation will be made. Bivariate and multivariate analysis will be made using logistic regression models to evaluate the association between cardiovascular risk and the independent variables. The research protocol was approved by the Scientific and Technical Committee and the Ethics Committee on Research of the Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The protocol has already received funding and the enrollment phase will begin in the coming months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study will give the foundation for the design, implementation, and evaluation of a program based on promoting healthy lifestyles, such as performing regular physical activity and healthy food intake in order to avoid and/or control the cardiovascular risk in the workers of a high complexity health care institution.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Research Center, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Colombia. magalygamboa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Edna M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6144-5877
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gamboa Delgado
authors.forename: Lyda Z
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4252-7105
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Rojas Sánchez
authors.forename: Anderson
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7568-8650
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bermon Angarita
authors.forename: Yully Andrea
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9264-4396
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Rangel Díaz
authors.forename: Silvia J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7486-7980
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jaraba Suárez
authors.forename: Norma C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3532-2002
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Serrano Díaz
authors.forename: Evaristo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9530-1858
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vega Fernández
keywords: cardiovascular disease; lifestyles; metabolic syndrome; prevalence; risk factors