Prevalence and determinants of ideal cardiovascular health in a latin women cohort: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) sought to reduce cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. In Chile, CV mortality in women is high. The study's main aim was to determine the prevalence of ideal CVH, and the factors and behaviors associated with ideal CVH in women from Santiago de Chile.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in women between 35 - 70 years old who were selected through a probabilistic, multistage, and geographically stratified sampling. The study included a survey on demographic and CV risk factors and anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical measurements. Three categories were used to characterize low (0-2), intermediate (3-4), and high (5-7) levels of AHA's Ideal CVH index. We assessed the prevalence of ideal CVH by age, education level, and socioeconomic status and determined the independent associations of different variables with ideal CVH.

Findings: 620 women, mean age 51± 4 years old, were recruited. Ideal CVH prevalence was 14.3%; none of the women presented an ideal healthy diet, and only 22.6% reached an ideal BMI. The best predictors of ideal CVH were a high education level (OR= 2.85; 1.43 to 5.92; p < 0.01), having less than two alcoholic drinks per day (OR= 4.09; 1.60 to 13.77; p< 0.01), and having a pregnancy history without preeclampsia and/or gestational diabetes (OR=1.94; 1.07 to 3.71; p=0.04).

Interpretation: This study demonstrates a low ideal CVH prevalence in Chilean women. Education level was a significant factor associated with ideal CVH. But also, women-specific risk factors, such as a history of preeclampsia/gestational diabetes, and alcohol consumption, were important factors related to CVH.

Funding: This study was supported by grants from Fundación SOCHICAR de la Sociedad Chilena de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, the American Heart Association and an unrestricted grant by TEVA Pharmaceuticals.

Keywords: Cardiovascular Health; Epidemiology; Risk factors; Women.

Conflict of interest statement

Monica Acevedo: Payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events: Axon Pharma, Novo Nordisk, Eli lilly, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim; Tecnofarma, Bayer, Ferrer. Participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board: Axon Pharma, NovoNordisk. Support for attending meetings and/or travel: European Congress of Cardiology travel and registration expenses, 2019 by Boehringer Ingelheim. Leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee or advocacy group, paid or unpaid: Director Fundación SOCHICAR, unpaid; Senior advisor, The Lancet Women and Cardiovascular Disease Commission Paola Varleta: Payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events: Axon Pharma, Novo Nordisk, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim; Tecnofarma, Abbott. Participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board: Axon Pharma, NovoNordisk. Support for attending meetings and/or travel: European Congress of Cardiology travel and registration expenses, 2019 by Boehringer Ingelheim. Leadership or fiduciary role in other board, society, committee or advocacy group, paid or unpaid: Director Fundación SOCHICAR, unpaid. Carolina Casas-Cordero: None. Amalia Berríos: None. Carlos Navarrete: None. Rosario López: None.

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Figures

Figure 1

Weighted prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor cardiovascular health estimates in each of the seven metrics in the study population (N= 620)