Gender Differences in Major Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Mexican Adults

TL;DR

This study examines how cardiovascular disease risk factors differ between men and women in Mexico, finding that women have higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and other risk factors.

Contribution

The study provides updated evidence on sex-specific cardiovascular risk profiles in Mexican adults using nationally representative data.

Findings

Women had higher prevalence of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and heart attack history compared to men.

Women with obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension had a 2.6-fold higher likelihood of a CVD diagnosis.

Individuals aged 50–59 years had more than two concurrent cardiovascular risk factors.

Abstract

Unhealthy lifestyle habits, including high-calorie diets and physical inactivity, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease frequently precede cardiovascular events. This study aimed to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of individuals who have experienced such events and to provide updated evidence on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Mexican adult population.

Data were obtained from adults aged ≥ 20 years with chronic diseases who participated in the 2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Biomarkers were measured from fasting (8 h) blood samples. The survey used a cross-sectional, probabilistic design with national representativeness. The prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors was estimated by sex and CVD diagnosis. Logistic regression analyses yielded adjusted odds ratios, identifying significant associations between key risk factors and CVD.

Women exhibited a greater prevalence of obesity (38.6%), diabetes (17.4%), dyslipidemia (88.5%), and a personal history of myocardial infarction (19.5%) in comparison to men; similarly, women and individuals aged 50–59 years demonstrate the presence of more than two concurrent risk factors. The prevalence of obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension in women was associated with an increased likelihood of a CVD diagnosis, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.6[95% CI: 1.5, 4.5].

The prevalence of cardiovascular events was similar between sexes; however, different risk factor profiles were identified. The pharmacological treatment alone has not been sufficient to achieve therapeutic goals.

Figures