[Prevalence alcohol consumption and cardiovascular risk factors in an Extremadura health area. Hermex study]

Aten Primaria. 2012 Apr;44(4):201-8. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2011.02.012. Epub 2011 Sep 19.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Objectives: Alcohol has been associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It has been our objective to determine the prevalence of use of alcohol and its association with the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena health area (Badajoz).

Participants: We selected a random sample of 25 to 79 year olds, representative of the population.

Methods: We collected a survey about the history of cardiovascular risk factors and alcohol consumption in the previous seven days. We measured blood pressure and a fasting blood sample was obtained. The association of alcohol consumption with the different CRF was studied by multivariate analysis, adjusting for different variables.

Results: A total of 2833 subjects participated, with a mean age 51.2 (SD 14.7) years and 46.5% males. We detected 36.1% (95% CI 34.4 to 37.9) of alcohol consumers. The overall prevalence and consumption medium or high risk was 63.2% and 15.2% in men, and 12.6% and 1.5% in women, respectively. In men, consumption of medium-high risk was associated with hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and smoking. In women, low-risk consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and hypertension and higher smoking.

Conclusions: We found a lower prevalence of alcohol use, especially in women, compared to the Spanish national average. The consumption of medium-high risk mainly affects men and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In women at low risk consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of certain CRF and increased smoking.

Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de consumo de alcohol por niveles de riesgo y su asociación con la presencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV).

Diseño: Estudio descriptivo transversal.

Emplazamiento: Área de salud Don Benito-Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz, España).

Participantes: Muestra aleatoria entre 25 y 79 años de edad, representativa de la población.

Métodos: Se encuestó sobre antecedentes de FRCV y consumo de alcohol en los últimos 7 días. Se midió la presión arterial y se extrajo muestra sanguínea en ayunas. Se estudió la asociación entre niveles de consumo con los distintos FRCV, ajustándose por distintas variables, mediante análisis multivariante.

Resultados: Participaron 2.833 sujetos, de edad media 51,2 años (DE 14,7), 46,5% hombres. Habían consumido alcohol el 36,1% (IC 95%: 34,4-37,9). La prevalencia total y de consumo de riesgo medio-alto fue del 63,2 y 15,2% en hombres y del 12,6 y 1,5% en mujeres, respectivamente. En hombres, el consumo de riesgo medio-alto se asoció con la hipercolesterolemia, hipertensión arterial y tabaquismo. En mujeres, el consumo de riesgo bajo se asoció con una menor prevalencia de obesidad e hipertensión arterial y mayor de tabaquismo.

Conclusiones: Existe una menor prevalencia de consumo, sobre todo en la mujer, con respecto a la media nacional. El consumo de riesgo medio-alto afecta fundamentalmente a hombres y se asocia a un mayor riesgo cardiovascular. En las mujeres el consumo de riesgo bajo se asocia a una menor prevalencia de ciertos FRCV y mayor de tabaquismo.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alcohol Drinking / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Spain / epidemiology