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Educational Inequalities and Cardiovascular Risk Factors. A Cross‐Sectional Population‐Based Study in Southern Spain
Author(s) -
MoralesAsencio José Miguel,
ManceraRomero José,
BernalLopez Rosa,
MartosCerezuela Ildefonso,
BacaOsorio Antonio J.,
MoyanoParis Maria Teresa,
MontielMurillo Juana,
Juncosa Flores Perez,
Perez Rosa Sanchez,
Tinahones Francisco J.,
GomezHuelgas Ricardo
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/phn.12008
Subject(s) - overweight , medicine , body mass index , waist , population , cross sectional study , demography , gerontology , public health , obesity , sedentary lifestyle , blood pressure , environmental health , nursing , pathology , sociology
Objectives To determine the prevalence and distribution of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors focused on educational level differences, in an adult population in Southern Spain. Design and Sample Cross‐sectional population‐based study. Random sample from the adult population assigned to a P rimary H ealth C are C entre in M álaga ( S outhern S pain), which attends 38,625 inhabitants. Measures Level of education, physical activity, blood pressure, waist perimeter, body mass index, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, among others, were assessed. Results Final sample included 2,270 subjects with a mean age of 43.65 ( SD : 16.65), 49.74% male and 50.26% female. 57.6% had none or only primary studies. Overweight was present in 55.8%, smokers were 27.6% and sedentary people 51.9%. Once adjusted by sex and age, all modifiable factors were lower in people with higher education. The highest risks were sedentarism ( OR 1.95; 95% CI: 1.16–3.29) and hypertension ( OR : 2.07 95% CI: 1.49–2.80) for those with lower education. Conclusions There is a clear inverse gradient of cardiovascular risk factors and educational level in the study population. Public health and community nurses should develop strong interventions for this challenge and extend their influence to public policies focused on educational inequalities and health.