Cardiovascular risk factors in people abovetwenty years old in Gonabad, Iran

Cardiovascular diseases are considered as important causes of morbidity and mortality and constitute a major public health concern both in Iran and worldwide. Due to the increase in cardiovascular diseases, the present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among Gonabad urban population. This cross-sectional study was performed in May-April, 2009 on a total of 606 subjects (205 males and 401females) recruited through random cluster sampling. Biochemical tests were performed to measure blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and HDL-C, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were also performed. Data were analyzed through statistical tests. The average age of the participants was 39.41+- 12.56 and the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were high LDL-C ( ≥ 130 mg/dl) and total cholesterol( ≥ 200 mg/dl). The next prevalent factors included high blood pressure most common among women (33.1%), obesity(22.4%), and abdominal obesity (17.8%). According to findings, high blood pressure was more prevalent in females (33.1) than males (30.6). HDL-C prevalence rate was higher among females, while high blood pressure and WHR were significantly more prevalent among males. Regarding the exceedingly high prevalence rate of some risk factors including LDL-C and total cholesterol in Gonabad, the need for a preventive intervention program to control risk factors and cardiovascular diseases is deemed important.