The cardiovascular Prevention Program in Polish adults aged 35-65 found 30% of men and 16% of women had hypertension, elevated cholesterol in about 65% overall, undiagnosed diabetes in 2.9% men vs 1.3% women, smoking in 28% men vs 20% women, overweight in 47% men vs 33% women, and obesity in 30% men vs 21% women, with significant age- and sex-related differences.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,187,168)
Sí
In a large national cohort of adults without established cardiovascular disease, there is an alarmingly high prevalence of modifiable risk factors, particularly among men, underscoring the urgent need for targeted primary prevention strategies.
Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of mortality in Europe, driven by a persistently high prevalence of modifiable risk factors. The aim of this study is to asse ss the prevalence, age-related trends, and sex differences in cardiovascular risk factors among adults aged 35–65 years participating in the Cardiovascular Prevention Program in Poland (2022–2024). Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,187,168 adults (718,528 women; 468,640 men) screened as part of Polish Cardiovascular Prevention Program. Evaluated risk factors were hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, elevated fasting glucose, tobacco use, low physical activity, overweight, and obesity. Analyses were stratified by age, sex, and year of participation. Linear and polynomial regression models were used to describe age-related patterns and short-term changes observed over the study period. Results Overweight (46.9–47.0% vs. 33.3–34.0%; p 0.001) and obesity (29.8–30.3% vs. 21.3–22.2%; p 0.001) were notably higher in men. Among women, overweight and obesity nearly doubled with age ( p for trend 0.05). Hypertension was less prevalent than expected but still higher in men (29.8–31.5% vs. 15.8–17.1%; p 0.001). Elevated cholesterol affected 63.5–66.9% of participants, especially women ( p 0.001), with no age-related decline ( p for trend 0.05). Undiagnosed diabetes rose with age, reaching 5.1% in men aged 60–65 ( p for trend 0.001). Smoking persisted at high levels across all age groups, increasing among older women ( p for trend 0.05; sex difference p 0.001). Physical inactivity declined with age in women ( p for trend 0.05) but increased in men ( p for trend 0.05). Conclusion In a large cohort without cardiovascular disease, we identified alarmingly high levels of modifiable risk factors, with significant age and sex disparities. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted, sex- and age-specific strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk.
Kubielas et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Adults aged 35-65 years without previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or familial hypercholesterolemia participating in a cardiovascular prevention program in Poland (n=1,187,168). Cardiovascular Prevention Program (CHUK) standardized cardiovascular risk assessment screening was evaluated on Prevalence of major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, elevated fasting glucose, tobacco use, low physical activity, overweight and obesity). The cardiovascular Prevention Program in Polish adults aged 35-65 found 30% of men and 16% of women had hypertension, elevated cholesterol in about 65% overall, undiagnosed diabetes in 2.9% men vs 1.3% women, smoking in 28% men vs 20% women, overweight in 47% men vs 33% women, and obesity in 30% men vs 21% women, with significant age- and sex-related differences.