Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Tunisian population: The ATERA-survey

Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Tunisia and worldwide. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is directly proportional to that of the main atherosclerotic risk factors: arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking and obesity. Up to day, in Tunisia there were no representative data on the adult prevalence rate. This is the reason behind starting a representative epidemiologic study to evaluate them and their evolution over time. Therefore the ATERA-Survey was initiated. Between January 2016 and February 2019, the Tunisian Association on Study and Research on Atherosclerosis (ATERA) and the International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) made, for the first time, a large national study, the ATERA-Survey. Material and methods It is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study of Tunisians aged 25 to 75 years living in the 24 governorates of Tunisia. A systematic and stratified random survey was conducted. Using a complex methodology and an innovative way of conducting a field survey, by the means of a medical caravan. Each subject answered the questionnaire on the nutritional state and cardiovascular risk factors, underwent a physical examination and had a blood sample drawn. Results The survey involved 11,955 individuals. The average age was 55 years. The prevalence of risk factors was: hypertension (50.5%), diabetes (18.2%), dyslipidemia (44%), obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kgm2) (31.4%) and smoking (24.4%). Conclusion This survey found a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a general population in Tunisia. This should lead to better develop a strategy to prevent cardiovascular diseases.