Introduction:

Obesity is associated with multiple adverse health consequences, such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipoproteinemia, cardiovascular disease, and others. The prevalence of these conditions has increased in Cuba in recent decades, closely associated with ponderal gain.

Objective:

To describe the relationship of obesity with cardiovascular disease and metabolic risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, and diabetes mellitus.

Methods:

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with 2902 patients who went for a medical check-up at Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Central Military Hospital. General, anthropometric and metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease were gathered. The tests of fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and oral glucose tolerance were performed in indicated cases. Glomerular filtrate was calculated. Patients were classified as low weight, normal weight, overweight, and obese. The relationship between nutritional status and metabolic risk factors and cardiovascular disease was identified.

Results:

44.5% were found in overweight, more frequent among men (45.5%). 29.2% were found in obesity, more frequent among women (31.6%). The body mass index increased progressively with age. Blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, and glomerular filtration levels increased with nutritional status, as well as the frequency of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipoproteinemia, and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions:

Obesity was very frequent in this group of patients, in which the metabolic risk factors were directly associated with high blood pressure, hyperlipoproteinemia, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease.

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