Valores de pressão arterial e suas associações com fatores de risco cardiovasculares em servidores da Universidade de Brasília

OBJECTIVE: To verify and classify, according to the JNC 7, the blood pressure levels (BPL) of the employees of University of Brasilia, a public university in Brazil, who are older than 40 years of age, and to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Brasilia, with employees over 40 years of age. They answered a questionnaire and had their blood pressure, weight and height measured. The BPLs were classified according to the JNC 7 classification and the demographic data of the subjects in each category were analyzed. The percentage of risk factors was calculated. The statistical analysis was carried out using the ANOVA test and the chi-square test, where applicable. RESULTS: Seven hundred and four subjects participated in the study, 438 male and 266 female. The median age was 47. According to the JNC 7, 139 (19.8%) subjects were classified as normotensive; 298 (42.3%) as prehypertensive and 267 (37.9%) as hypertensive. The risk factors assessed were overweight/obesity (56.8%), smoking habit (19.5%), alcohol consumption (53.6%), sedentary lifestyle (48.4%) and hypertension (37.9%). CONCLUSION: The high frequency of elevated blood pressure levels and cardiovascular risk factors among the employees indicates the need for preventive and therapeutic measures for cardiovascular disease targeted at the university's employees.