Cardiovascular risk profile in a rural population of Colombia: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Miguel A. Trillod Arias; Jose M. Alba Maldonado

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264045

Authors

Miguel A. Trillod Arias Department of Ciencias Agropecuarias, Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia, Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia
Jose M. Alba Maldonado Department of Ciencias Agropecuarias, Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia, Tunja, Boyaca, Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20264045

Keywords:

Cardiovascular risk, Colombia dyslipidemias, Primary health care, Rural health, Rural population

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in Colombia, and rural populations carry a disproportionate, poorly characterized burden. Evidence on the application of the 2024 Colombian Dyslipidemias Consensus in rural primary care is scarce. This study describes the cardiovascular risk profile of the adult population of Úmbita, Boyacá.

Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study using secondary data from the institutional information system of the E.S.E. Centro de Salud San Rafael de Úmbita (January 2024 to December 2025). 1,261 adults aged 30 to 75 years without prior cardiovascular events were included. Demographic, anthropometric, comorbidity, and lipid variables were described; ten-year risk was stratified with the four-step Colombian algorithm and the Framingham-Wilson scale recalibrated for Colombia (factor 0.75).

Results: Mean age was 54.8 years (SD 12.2). Abdominal obesity reached 65.9% and excess weight 62.4%. Low HDL-C was present in 83.9% (91.1% in women), and LDL-C of 160 mg/dL or higher in 48.1%. Hypertension affected 30.1% and prediabetes 30.1%. Under the four-step algorithm, 45.6% classified as high or very high risk, including 25.8% of adults aged 30 to 44 years. Mean recalibrated Framingham-Wilson risk was 15.4% (SD 14.6); 27.5% classified as high risk (20% or higher), higher in women (33.8%) than men (18.4%).

Conclusions: Úmbita presents a severe cardiometabolic burden defined by low HDL-C, abdominal obesity, and mixed dyslipidemia, with elevated risk among adults of working age. These findings support primary care interventions articulated with the territorial determinants of health.

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