Cardiovascular risk factors in adults 80 years of age or older

Abstract

In Peru, the 80 years‘ population and older is increasing and cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death. The aim of the study is to analyze the cardiovascular risk factors in octogenarians. Material and methods: It is a descriptive, observational cross prevalence research, conducted in March 2015 in Lima. A questionnaire on cardiovascular risk factors was used; blood pressure, weight, height and body mass index, in people 80 years of age or older was recorded. Results: Were evaluated 969 subjects, of whom 562 (58%) were women and 407 (42%) were male; with an average age of 84.2 years; predominant age group of 80-84 years 60.5%. 427 cases were hypertensive (44.1%), and was more common in women (62.2%). 9% of the study population (87 cases) were smokers; being more common in men (64%) (p = 0.000009). They were recorded at 220 subjects (22.7%) with hypercholesterolemia, being more common in women (139 patients: 63.2%), without statistical significance. Diabetes was reported in 11.5% of the studied sample (111 patients), it was the most frequently in women (68.5%) (p = 0.018). According to BMI values, 537 subjects (55.4%) had a BMI <25, while 33.8% of the population (328) were overweight and 10.7% were enrolled with obesity, more prevalent in women (70, 2%) (p = 0.028). In the hypertensive population was 87% in drug treatment, of which 65% were controlled. 26.5% (257 cases) of the studied population had two risk factors and 13.1% (127) three or more risk factors. Conclusions: The most frequent factor of cardiovascular risk has been Hypertension, predominantly women. 40% of the evaluated subjects had two or more risk factors. 87% of hypertensive patients received drug treatment and 65% of them were controlled.