Prevalência dos Fatores de Risco Cardiovascular em Adultos Admitidos na Unidade de Dor Torácica em Vassouras, RJ Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Adults Admitted to the Chest Pain Unit, Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro State

Background: With cardiovascular diseases rated as the leading cause of death in Brazil, monitoring risk factors is an essential step towards reducing this problem. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the main cardiovascular risk factors among adults living in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Methods: Observational, descriptive and transversal study, with sample of 1,060 adults admitted to the Chest Pain Unit at the Sul Fluminense University Hospital in Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro State. It is based on a retrospective analysis of standardized questionnaires completed by patients presenting chest pain, evaluated by: sex, gender, hypertension, diabetes, overweight/ obesity, sedentary lifestyles, prior history of acute myocardial infarction, family history, alcohol consumption, smoking and dyslipidemia. The data were stored and analyzed using Microsoft Excel software. A 95% Confidence Interval was used, together with the chi-square test for statistical analysis, with significance at 1% and 5%. Results: The sample consisted of 51.4% females and 48.6% males. The main risk factors were: 65% hypertension, 49.4% family history, 42.8% sedentary lifestyles, 25.3% overweight/obesity, 23% smoking, 22.9% dyslipidemia, 19.7% diabetes, 18.5% infarction and 8.6% alcoholism. Conclusion: The magnitude of the prevalence of these risk factors suggests that health promotion and preventive strategies must be stepped up, in parallel to improving emergency care for patients at risk for coronary disease.