Adherence to the ideal cardiovascular health index in people attending the Cardiology Service, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas, Córdoba 2015-2020

Abstract

The ideal cardiovascular health index (ISCI) is composed of seven health metrics that constitute an integrated strategy in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of adherence to the ISCI in adults attending the Cardiology service of the Hospital Nacional de Clínicas (HNC) in Córdoba. 

Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study. A total of 292 adults >40 years old, both sexes, attending the Cardiology service of the HNC of Córdoba, during 2015-2020 participated. Ethical aspects were approved by the Institutional Health Research Ethics Committee of the HNC. The ISCI was defined based on the categories (ideal, intermediate and poor) of four health behaviors: body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA), smoking and healthy diet, and three health factors: total cholesterol, glycemia and blood pressure (BP). The information was collected through a clinical history and validated questionnaires on frequency of food consumption, PA and smoking. BMI and BP were determined according to international guidelines. The dietary-nutritional information was processed using Interfood v.1.3 software. A descriptive analysis was performed on the total sample and according to sex. 

Smoking was the most prevalent ideal health behavior in women and men (53.25% and 39.26%, respectively), whereas healthy diet was the indicator with the lowest adherence (0.67% and 0.74%, respectively). Of the sample, 60.28% presented poor PA, and only 20.89% had a healthy BMI, being higher in women (26.28% vs 14.71%). Of the sample, 45.84% and 46.30% adhered to the ideal cholesterol and glycemia status, respectively. Ideal BP was the lowest adherence factor, mainly in men (15.15% vs 22.37%). 31.5% adhered to 2 ideal metrics and 24.5% of the sample adhered to 3 ideal metrics, respectively. Only 2.5% complied with 6 ideal metrics and none complied with the 7 ideal metrics. Of the sample, 91.5% had poor cardiovascular health.

It is evident that the patients had low adherence to healthy lifestyles, which leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular events. It is important to develop effective strategies to promote cardiovascular health.