Dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk in Afro-descendants: a study of the Quilombola communities in Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors associated with dyslipidemia in Quilombola communities in Maranhão, Brazil. Methods: a cross-sectional study was performed from February 2010 to November 2011. A total of 202 individuals belonging to the Quilombola communities in Codó, Maranhão were assessed. Risk factors associated with dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome (MS) were evaluated. Results: the results showed a high prevalence of dyslipidemia (72.28%) and hypertension (43.07%). Isolated hypertriglyceridemia (38.61%) with normal levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was present in most individuals. Furthermore, the prevalence of MS and the estimated cardiovascular risks were low in this population. Conclusion: dyslipidemia, at the expense of triglycerides, and hypertension was highly prevalent. However, the frequency of other risk factors for cardiovascular events was low. A low prevalence of MS and cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham score for cardiovascular diseases was also identified.