Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in an urban male population in Southeast Brazil

Surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended worldwide. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of smoking, overweight/obesity, insufficient physical activity, arterial hypertension, and pre-hypertension among men covered by the Family Health Program in urban Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, in Southeast Brazil. A household survey was performed with a systematic sample of 217 men 20 to 49 years of age, from a list of residents within this age range. Prevalence of risk factors was high, with overweight/obesity the most frequent (43.3%; 95%CI: 36.6-50.2). Men classified as sedentary or with irregular physical activity totaled 28% (95%CI: 22.2-34.6). Smoking was reported by 25.3% (95%CI: 19.7-31.7). Overt hypertension was present in 24% (95%CI: 18.4-30.2) and borderline hypertension in 19.4% (95%CI: 14.3-25.2). Two or more simultaneous risk factors were found in 45.2% of the sample. The high prevalence rates suggest that health promotion strategies need to be intensified in the male population.