Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk in Seven Cities in Latin America: The Main Conclusions of the Carmela Study

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Abstract

To assess the cardiovascular risk of the Latin American population, we conducted a homogeneous population-based
sampling study in seven cities of the region following controlled and standardized methods, laboratory tests and physical
examination and thus obtain reliable epidemiological data. The CARMELA study (Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple
Evaluation in Latin America) evaluated 11550 subjects from the general population. The prevalence of hypertension mirrored the world average in 3 cities but was lower in the rest. Hypercholesterolemia was highly prevalent even in countries of different socioeconomic levels. The prevalence of diabetes ranged between 7% and 9% in Mexico City, Bogotá and Santiago de Chile. Tobacco use was high in both sexes in Santiago and Buenos Aires. Abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome were more prevalent in women of low resources. Intima-media thickness and carotid plaque prevalence varied widely. The epidemiological data obtained in the CARMELA study complete the outlook of the cardiovascular risk in our region and indicate the need of rationale urban health policies.