Cardiovascular risk stratification by means of the SCORE system in health care workers in Veracruz, Mexico

Background To assess cardiovascular disease risk by means of the SCORE system (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) in health care workers (HCW) from Veracruz, Mexico. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Mexican Institute of Social Security from Veracruz. Seventy six HCW without physical limitations (NYHA Functional Class I) were included. All HCW answered a standardised medical history questionnaire and were evaluated by physical examination and lab tests. The cardiovascular risk was assessed through the SCORE system. Results The median age of participants was 47 years (90% range 42–57 years), female HCW had higher prevalence of obesity and lower prevalence of overweight compared to male HCW (52% vs 23% for obesity and 26% vs 63% for overweight; p = 0.014). The prevalence of hypertension was 22%, type 2 diabetes 8%, hypercholesterolemia 70%, hypertriglyceridemia 47% and mixed hyperlipidemia 26%. Cardiovascular risk assessed by the SCORE system showed that 14% of all patients had a cardiovascular risk higher than 2% and 51% had a risk lower than 1%. Conclusions In this first study of cardiovascular risk assessment by means of the SCORE system in HCW in Mexico, we found that 14% of them have a cardiac risk higher than 2% and that it is double than expected for their age but it is lower than reported in a European population. Also, we found a higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipidemia showing poor education and treatment for cardiovascular prevention.