Abstract

GUZMAN, Mayque; PEREZ CHIL, Juan Carlos; CASANUEVA CABEZA, Manuel Francisco  and  BARRETO CRUZ, Tamara. Some clinical factors of cardiovascular risk in a group of diabetic patients from Artemisa municipality. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2004, vol.23, n.1, pp. 23-30. ISSN 1561-3011.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 457 diabetic patients from 30 family physicians' offices of Artemisa municipality. 419 (91.6 %) were surveyed and examined. There was a prevalence of 2.25 %. Females (70.88 %) and type 2 diabetes predominated. The average age was over 60 in both sexes. Smoking was more frequent in males. Sedentarism exceeded 50 % in both sexes. The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 68.66 % (70.27 % in females and 64.75 % in males). High readings of arterial hypertension were detected in 65.19 % of known hypertensive females and in 69.9 % of men that were under some type of antihypertensive treatment. Abnormal readings of arterial pressure were observed in 9.56 % of the patients with no previous diagnosis, or antihypertenvie treatment. More than 60 % of the patients fulfilled the overweight and obesity criteria (body mass index >25 kg/m2). Figures of waist/hip risk index were found in 88.47 % of females and in 81.15 % of males. Obviously, sedentarism, obesity and arterial hypertension are phenomena frequently affecting the diabetic patients. Strategies should be established to promote changes in the lifestyle of this group of patients.

Keywords : DIABETES MELLITUS [complications]; DIABETES MELLITUS [epidemiology]; RISK FACTORS; HYPERTENSION; OBESITY; SMOKING.