Prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Entrants to the National University of La Rioja in 2007

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death of adult population in most countries. Risk factors seem to be present at increasingly early ages. We studied 120 students of both sexes between 17 and 21 years old, freshman at the School of Medicine, National University of La Rioja in 2007. Thirty-five percent do not show normal systolic pressure. Twenty-three point five percent have a body mass index above normal. Only 19% of women do some physical activity. Sixty-six point seven percent of women and 50% of men have cholesterol levels above the acceptable and 74% of men present moderate to high cardiovascular risk. The observed prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is a warning sign given the young age of the population studied.