OBJECTIVE: To describe the cardiovascular health profile of an adult population from the metropolitan region of São Paulo, according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria. METHODS: Two hundred volunteers of both sexes enrolled in the "Cardiac Evaluation" project of a general outpatient clinic were studied. Data collected included socioeconomic status, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, anthropometric measurements, diet, physical activity, serum lipids, blood glucose and blood pressure. Average intake of dietary cholesterol and total lipids was estimated from a 24-hour dietary recall. Physical activity level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-8) and exercise stress tests. RESULTS: Sample population composition was 61.5% female and 38.5% male, mean age 41.7 (median = 42.6) and 41.0 (median = 43.0%). Prevalence of smoking (22%) and daily alcohol consumption (14% males; no females) was low. The overweight prevalence was 47% (12% being obese), in addition to high levels of serum total cholesterol (> 190 mg/dl) in 56% and LDL-cholesterol (> 115 mg/dl) in 61%. The IPAQ-8 results showed that 6% were sedentary. CONCLUSION: The study population showed greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, according to ESC criteria, due especially to the high prevalence of overweight and hypercholesterolemia.
Cardiovascular health; adults; risk factors
