[Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in an urban male population in Southeast Brazil].

Surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended worldwide. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of smoking, overweight/obesity, insufficient physical activity, arterial hypertension, and pre-hypertension among men covered by the Family Health Program in urban Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, in Southeast Brazil. A household survey was performed with a systematic sample of 217 men 20 to 49 years of age, from a list of residents within this age range. Prevalence of risk factors was high, with overweight/obesity the most frequent (43.3%; 95%CI: 36.6-50.2). Men classified as sedentary or with irregular physical activity totaled 28% (95%CI: 22.2-34.6). Smoking was reported by 25.3% (95%CI: 19.7-31.7). Overt hypertension was present in 24% (95%CI: 18.4-30.2) and borderline hypertension in 19.4% (95%CI: 14.3-25.2). Two or more simultaneous risk factors were found in 45.2% of the sample. The high prevalence rates suggest that health promotion strategies need to be intensified in the male population.