Population-based cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly in Turkey: a cross-sectional survey

• Authors: Adem Ozkara , Faruk Turgut , Mehmet Kanbay , Yusuf Selcoki , Ali Akcay
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity and smoking are known to be the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Because the elderly population has been increasing globally, CVD may become a more important public health problem in the future. This report examines the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly in Ankara, Turkey. This was a cross-sectional survey and included a total of 2720 individuals living in the Ankara district. Trained research staff administered a standard questionnaire in the participants’ homes and worksites. The questionnaire collected information on clinical and demographic characteristics and a self-reported medical history, including past history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, coronary artery by-pass graft operation, and cerebrovascular accident. The mean age of the study participants was 69.5 ± 7.2 years. The study identified 1298 women (78.1%) and 753 men (71.2%) with hypertension, and the overall prevalence of hypertension was 75.4%. A total of 739 (27.2%) people had diabetes mellitus, and, of these people, 603 (81.6%) were hypertensive. A total of 1361 people had hyperlipidemia, and 1103 of these patients were also hypertensive. The overall prevalence of obesity was 27.2%. A total of 553 (20.3%) people were smokers. Our findings indicate that cardiovascular risk factors are very common in the elderly. To maximize risk reduction, physicians must take aggressive measures to decrease cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords

EN

Hypertension; Diabetes; Prevalence; Risk factors; Elderly; Antihypertensive therapy; Cardiovascular mortality

• Publisher: De Gruyter Open
• Journal: Open Medicine
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 173-178

Dates

published

1 - 6 - 2008

online

9 - 4 - 2008

Contributors

author

Adem Ozkara

• Department of Family Medicine, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

author

Faruk Turgut

• Department of Nephrology, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

author

Mehmet Kanbay

• Department of Nephrology, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

author

Yusuf Selcoki

• Department of Cardiology, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

author

Ali Akcay

• Department of Nephrology, Fatih University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

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Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s11536-007-0058-7