The results of the Venezuelan Cardiometabolic Health Study (EVESCAM), presented by doctors María Inés Marulanda (principal researcher), Ramfis Nieto Martínez (principal researcher), Juan Pablo González (co principal researcher), Eunice Ugel (statistic and co -researcher),and Maritza Durán (CO researcher), during the XXIII Venezuelan Congress of Internal Medicine, evidenced an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the Venezuelan population.
Hypertension increased by 36.7%, and pre diabetes by 39.8%.Four out of ten Venezuelans has abdominal obesity and risk of presenting diabetes.
According to Dr. Maritza Durán, president of the Venezuelan Society of Internal Medicine, and a member of the EVESCAM investigative body, “there is more population with cardiovascular risk than without him.It is estimated that more than 8 million Venezuelans become diabetics.Almost 7.5 million Venezuelans are hypertensive, in a country where there is no antihypertensive. ”
Socio -economic factors and cardiovascular health
According to the expert, socioeconomic factors present in the current situation of the country, such as food shortages and limited access to medications are directly related to the increase in the prevalence of heart disease.“The socioeconomic crisis has resulted in our individuals.The caloric load has decreased and that has influenced weight loss inappropriately, because the proper balance of nutrients is not being made. ”
The prevalence of obesity (24.4%) already constitutes a public health problem in the central region.“The obesity factor is important to work it, because we still have a significant percentage of patients with an increase in abdominal obesity.You may not be obese, but if you have an increase in abdominal obesity that will bring with it the increase in cardiovascular risk and risk of diabetes, ”Durán said.
Another important aspect revealed in the study was the increase in low weight, which increased from 1.1% to 3.9% between 2015 and 2017. “That is a reflection of the situation we are living.The best strategy is prevention, and one of the purposes of the EVESCAM is precisely that.We have more hypertensive, more people at risk of getting diabetics who are having poor diet.We are going to do education campaigns, but hand in hand with a policy that allows access to adequate food. ”
Dr. Durán emphasized that limited access to medicines is another factor puts at risk of death and disability to that population that has high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes.In the case of the capital city, most diabetics are treated with oral medications.Insulin use is little.For diseases that are highly prevailing, the fact of not having medications to treat them, translates into the future, in Venezuelans with disabilities, or that die prematurely.
Additionally, the president of the Venezuelan Society of Internal Medicine, emphasized the need to establish purposes to raise the quality of life of the Venezuelan incorporated into the public health system.“Venezuelan women, statistically have more prevalence of insufficient physical activity than men.More than 50% presents obesity, with a high body fat percentage.It is vital to guarantee spaces for people to exercise.Studies have shown that changes in lifestyle decrease the risk of presenting any of these degenerative diseases, ”he concluded.
