Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in Luzerna, Santa Catarina, in 2006.

OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population of Luzerna, in the state of Santa Catarina. METHODS A cross-sectional study with adults of both genders aged 20 to 59 years (n = 411). The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, increased waist circumference, and smoking was estimated. Study variables were checked for frequency distribution, and a chi-square test for association was performed. RESULTS The response rate was 85.9%. The following prevalences were found: hypertension: 14.7%; diabetes: 2.3%; dyslipidemia: 18.7%; obesity: 15.6%; increased waist circumference: 24.1%; and smoking: 15.6%. A total of 52.4% of the subjects had none of the risk factors; 22.4% had one risk factor, and 13.6%, 6.8%, and 4.9% had two, three, and four or more associated risk factors, respectively. CONCLUSION The study sample showed low prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and less clustering of risk factors in the same individual, as compared with other data reported in the literature.