Risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases and the CARMEN Initiative: a population-based study in the South of Brazil

Abstract

The CARMEN Initiative is a strategy of the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization that proposes population-based interventions to reduce risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCD) by approaching them simultaneously. The present study aims to provide a baseline for further interventions by the CARMEN Initiative based on a cross-sectional population-based study of 3,100 adults (>20 years old) in Pelotas, a city in the South of Brazil. Prevalence of smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and excess weight were studied and presented separately and aggregated in various combinations. The most frequent risk factor was physical inactivity (73.2%), followed by excess weight (48.1%). Women were less active and thinner than men. More than half of the sample showed two or three risk factors (53.4%). The combination of physical inactivity and excess weight was observed in 34.7% of the sample, while 10.8% presented physical inactivity, excess weight, and hypertension concurrently. The accumulation of risk factors for CNCD is frequent in the study population and the identification of the most common combinations is essential for planning future interventions.

Fatores de risco comportamentais acumulados para doenças cardiovasculares no sul do Brasil

“…16 High consumption of processed meats is a risk factor for the development of systemic arterial hypertension, because of the high sodium content. 9 High concomitance of risk factors for CVDs, such as smoking, alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, obesity, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and insuffi cient intake of fruit, greens and other vegetables was found in previous studies in Brazil 4,8,14,18 and in other parts of the world. 19,23 A study that investigated the combined prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, physical inactivity and excess weight showed that around 40% of the adult population in Pelotas presented two risk factors in 2003, and the most prevalent combination was between physical inactivity and excess weight.…”

“…Greater accumulation was observed among the men, which goes against estimates from some Brazilian studies that did not fi nd such differences. 4,8,14,18 In the present study, BRFs relating to food were investigated, which may explain this discrepancy. Women may have greater interest in issues relating to healthy eating, following diets, consuming foods with low calorie content and taking care with health and the body, which thus may infl uence their habits and lifestyles.…”

“…19,23 A study that investigated the combined prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, physical inactivity and excess weight showed that around 40% of the adult population in Pelotas presented two risk factors in 2003, and the most prevalent combination was between physical inactivity and excess weight. 4 A study on the combined prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and sedentarism in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, showed that the main combination of two factors was physical inactivity and smoking, for both sexes. 8 Physical inactivity has been the most prevalent factor in all the combinations in different studies.…”

“…Populationbased information on accumulated behavioral risk factors (BRFs) for CVDs is scarce in Brazil, 4,8,14,18 especially with regard to coexistence of factors such as smoking, physical inactivity and excessive consumption of fats of animal origin.…”

Vigilancia de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças e agravos não transmissíveis em município de pequeno porte, Brasil, 2010

“…20 A baixa prevalência de dislipidemia referida comparada aos resultados dos exames bioquímicos pode refletir a falta de diagnóstico. A prevalência de glicemia em jejum superior a 126mg/dL ou uso de hipoglicemiante oral ou insulina referido foi semelhante à prevalência de diabetes referida, sugerindo que o dado referido pode ser utilizado em futuros inquéritos com a população adulta do município.…”