ABSTRACT
Introducción. La obesidad está asociada con factores de riesgo para enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas. La obesidad central, marcador de adiposidad intraabdominal aumentada, es mejor factor de riesgo para aterosclerosis y diabetes que el índice de masa corporal (IMC), y buen predictor de riesgo de morbimortalidad cardiovascular, síndrome metabólico y diabetes. Objetivo. Estimar prevalencias de obesidad por IMC y de obesidad abdominal por circunferencia abdominal en pacientes de atención primaria en Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Como parte de un estudio internacional, 105 médicos de atención primaria elegidos al azar reclutaron consecutivamente a pacientes de 18 a 80 años, que consultaran por cualquier razón, en dos medios días especificados previamente. Se registraron edad, sexo, tabaquismo, antecedentes cardiovasculares, diabetes, altura, peso y circunferencia abdominal mediante métodos estandarizados. Se excluyeron mujeres embarazadas y quienes no quisieran participar. Resultados. Se evaluaron 3.795 pacientes, con edad promedio de 45 años (69 % mujeres). El 60,7 % de los hombres y el 53,9 % de las mujeres tenían sobrepeso u obesidad según el IMC. El 24,6 % de los hombres y el 44,6 % de las mujeres tenían obesidad abdominal (según las guías del National Cholesterol Education Program), pero las cifras cambiaban a 62,5 % y 67,0 %, respectivamente, si se consideraban las guías de la International Diabetes Federation. La obesidad, determinada por el IMC o por la circunferencia abdominal, se asoció con mayor prevalencia de diabetes, hipertensión y dislipidemia. Conclusiones. El aumento de la circunferencia abdominal es un marcador práctico y útil para enfermedades cardiovasculares y metabólicas. La prevalencia de obesidad abdominal en pacientes de atención primaria en Colombia fue alta, y más frecuente en mujeres.
Introduction. Obesity is frequently associated with risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Central obesity is a marker of increased intra-abdominal adiposity and a known risk factor for atherosclerosis and diabetes; it is also a good predictor of risk for coronary events, cardiovascular mortality, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. A less predictive alternate measurement is known as the body mass index (BMI). Objective. Obesity prevalence was estimated first by BMI and then by abdominal obesity (measured by waist circumference, WC) in primary care patients. Materials and methods. As part of an international study, primary care physicians recruited consecutive patients aged 18 to 80 years who consulted for any reason on two pre-specified half-days. Age, gender, smoking status and history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes were recorded. Height, weight and WC were measured using standard methods. Pregnant women and subjects unwilling to participate were excluded. Results. A total of 3,795 patients from 105 primary care centers located throughout Colombia were evaluated. The mean age was 45 years (69% females). Of these, 60.7% of males and 53.9% of females were overweight or obese according to their BMI; 24.6% of males and 44.6% of females had abdominal obesity when National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines were used, but numbers changed to 62.5% and 67.0% when the International Diabetes Federation guidelines were used. Obesity, either determined by BMI or by WC, was associated with higher prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Conclusions. Increased waist circumference is a practical and useful marker for cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. The prevalence of abdominal obesity in Colombian primary care patients is high and more frequent in females.