Lifestyle and distribution of cardiovascular disease risk factors in an employee population

Abstract

A study was conducted on lifestyle and its consequence in the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in a population of 200 employees of a Rome-based governmental office. The following CHD risk factors were identified: sex, age, serum cholesterol, blood pressure, obesity, smoking habits and lack of physical exercise. The percentage distribution of risk factors in the sample was as follows: serum cholesterol: 30%; blood pressure: 19%; obesity: 9%; lack of exercise: 75%; smoking: 39%. The average daily energy intake was 9.71 MJ (2324 kcal), higher than this population's established requirements; the protein intake was also found to be high, due to excessive consumption of animal foods. In females, a positive correlation was observed between serum cholesterol and age, serum lipids and percentage of fat mass; in males, a correlation was observed with serum lipids and triglycerides. No significant correlations were observed between risk factors, with the exception of a marked connection of serum cholesterol with age in females.