ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the presence of cardiovascular risk factors in employees of the "Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro". PATIENTS AND METHODS: A survey of 250 men age ranging from 35 to 64 years, randomly selected among 4651 employees of URFJ, was done. They were invited by letter to a consultation at which previously trained personnel applied a questionnaire to investigate about their education level, income, occupation, smoking habit, and use of anti-hypertensive drugs. They also had their blood pressure, height and weight measured and underwent a blood sample collection for serum cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol analysis. This procedure followed a standardized protocol. RESULTS: Two hundred and nine subjects (83.6%) were examined. The characteristics of age, education, and occupation were similar for responders and non-responders. The mean (+/- standard deviation) for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were respectively: 210 +/- 21.9 mg/dl; 41.1 +/- 12.4 mg/dl; 129.7 +/- 24.0 and 80.4 +/- 17.7. The prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and smoking were: 30%, 22% and 38%. The prevalence of these risk factors together was 4%. Only SBP and DBP were statistically different when analyzed by income or education strata. There was a strong positive correlation between body mass index and serum cholesterol and blood pressure levels. CONCLUSION: In spite of the high education level and income of this sample for brazilian standards, the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases is very high, especially for the overweight and the socially less favoured. More precise indicators of dietary habits and socio-economic and cultural status are necessary to develop adequate interventional strategies. The control of obesity seems to be a desirable goal in achieving the concurrent control of associated risk factors.
