Skip to main content

Table 1 Distribution of cardiovascular risk factors by sex among cohort participants (≥18 years)

From: Cardiovascular risk estimated after 13 years of follow-up in a low-incidence Mediterranean region with high-prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors

   Men (N = 956) Women (N = 1067)  
   Median IQR Median IQR P
Age at recruitment (years) 39.3 19.5 40.5 19.0 0,699
Body mass index (kg/m 2 ) 26.7 4.7 26.3 6.6 0,572
Total serum cholesterol (mg/dl) 196.0 63.5 186.0 63.0 <0,001
Serum triglycerides (mg/dl) 118.0 86.5 84.0 51.0 <0,001
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) 129.0 20.0 121.0 24.0 <0,001
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) 79.0 16.0 76.0 16.0 <0,001
   N % N % P
Hypercholesterolemia a No 664 69.5 792 74.2  
  Controlled 100 10.5 105 9.8  
  Uncontrolled 164 17.2 143 13.4 0.040
  Unknownd 28 2.9 27 2.5  
Triglyceridemia <150 mg/dl 650 68.0 943 88.4  
  ≥150 mg/dl 306 32.0 124 11.6 <0,001
Educational level Illiterate 19 2.0 47 4.4  
  Incomplete primary 255 26.7 374 35.1  
  Primary shool 394 41.2 428 40.1  
  Secondary school 165 17.3 130 12.2  
  University 123 12.9 88 8.2 <0,001
Hypertension b No 562 58.8 695 65.0  
  Controlled 60 6.3 101 9.4  
  Uncontrolled 310 32.4 265 24.8 <0,001
  Unknownd 24 2.5 9 0.8  
Diabetes c No 859 89.9 945 88.6  
  Yes 74 7.7 103 9.7 0,140
  Unknownd 23 2.4 19 1.8  
Smoking Non-smoker 309 32.3 740 69.4  
  Former smoker 132 13.8 37 3.5  
  Smoker 515 53.9 290 27.2 <0,001
Body mass index <25 kg/m2 293 30.7 413 38.7  
  25-29.9 kg/m2 485 50.7 378 35.4  
  ≥30 kg/m2 178 18.6 276 25.9 <0,001
Moderate physical activity None 722 80,8 972 91,1  
  <1/2 h/day 97 10,2 54 5,1  
  ≥1/2 h/day 87 8,1 41 3,8 <0,001
Intense physical activity None 830 86,8 1011 94,8  
  <2 h/day 40 4,2 19 1,8  
  ≥2 h/day 86 9,0 37 3,5 <0,001
  1. IQR: Interquartile range (Q3 - Q1).
  2. aControlled hypercholesterolemia defined as prior diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia or use of lipid-lowering medication and total serum cholesterol <240 mg/dl; uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia defined as total serum cholesterol ≥240 mg/dl.
  3. bControlled hypertension defined as prior diagnosis of hypertension or use of anti-hypertensive medication and systolic/diastolic blood pressure <140/90 mmHg; uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg.
  4. cDefined as a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes or prescription of insulin or oral anti-diabetic medication.
  5. dParticipants with missing data on drug use, excluded from statistical tests.
Back to article page

BMC Public Health

ISSN: 1471-2458

Contact us