RESUMO
Existen pocos estudios de factores de riesgo para enfermedad cardiovascular en América Latina y El Caribe. ESCEL-2008 estudió la distribución de factores de riesgo para enfermedad cardiovascular en población urbana, de 15 o más años de edad. Estado Lara, Venezuela. En este artículo se presenta la metodología para obtener una muestra probabilística a nivel poblacional y describir sus características demográficas. Estudio transversal de base poblacional. El censo poblacional del Estado Lara 2001 correspondió al marco muestral. La población estuvo ubicaba en 9 municipios. 58 parroquias y 2.300 centros poblados. De estos últimos, 36 urbanos (mayor e igual 2500 habitantes). La muestra probabilística obtenida mediante entrevista cara a cara y muestreo por conglomerados en cuatro etapas, combinando selección aleatoria simple y sistemática de las unidades sin reemplazo. 1294 personas encuestadas con tasa de respuesta de 77,3%. Muestra con un porcentaje superior de mujeres (66,5%) con respecto a la población proyectada a 2007 (51,2%), así como, mayor porcentaje de personas en las franjas superiores de edad. En cuanto al grado de escolaridad, aproximadamente 20% tuvo nivel universitario completo; 3,7% de los jefes de familia son analfabetos, valor inferior al de madres (15,6%) y otro miembro familiar (13,2%). Hubo una buena tasa de respuesta para la metodología aplicada, que permitió obtener una muestra representativa de la población diana y podría servir para estudiar de manera eficiente la distribución de factores de riesgo de ECV en otros lugares de América Latina y El Caribe.
There are few studies at the population level of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Latin America and the Caribbean. The principal objetive of ESCEL 2008 Project is to study the distribution of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the urban population of Lara State, Venezuela, ages 15 or more years. This article aims to present the methodology used to obtain a probability sample at the population level and to describe its demographic charactéristics. Cross-sectional population based study. The population census of 2001 in Lara State was used as the sampling frame. According to this, the population was located in 9 municipalities, 58 parishes and 2.300 population centres, Of the latter, 36 were urban (2.500 inhabitants or more). The probability sample underwent face to face interviews and sampling by clusters in four stages, combining simple, systematic random selection of units without replacement. 1.294 people were surveyed, with a response rate of 77.3%. The sample was composed of a higher percentage of women than projected for the population to 2007, 66.5% versus 51.2%, as well as a higher percentage of people in the upper age groups. Approximately one of every five respondents including heads of households, mothers, or other interviewees had a completed university education. 3.7% of the heads of households were illiterate, which is lower tham among mothers and other family members, 15.6% and 13.2%, respectively. The response rate for the applied methodology can be considered good. given the high level of anxiety about safety in the urban population. Differences in the distribution of age and sex in the sample relative to 2007 projections, required adjustments to the age and sex distribution in order to maintain representativeness of the population. The described methodology allowed us to obtain a representative sample of the target population, and could be used to study the distribution of risk factors for cardiovascular disease.