Cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle, and social determinants:a cross-sectional population study

摘要

The association of many vascular diseases and their risk factors with socioeconomic status has been well described. In fact, a relationship between social determinants and diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, or high blood pressure, as well as between the level of education or social class and tobacco smoking or obesity, has been documented. The prevalence of tobacco smoking among males from the member states of the European Union concentrates mainly on the lowest socioeconomic groups and those with the lowest levels of education. In general, males and females with the lowest level of education are three to four times more likely to be smokers than those with higher education; and the use of tobacco can explain one-third of the socioeconomic differences in mortality. In addition, the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus is directly related to obesity and sedentary habits, which may also be related to social determinants.