Hasta el momento no contábamos con estimaciones a nivel nacional de los principales factores de riesgo de morbimortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares que permitieran una estrategia de promoción y prevención primaria. En el marco del desarrollo de políticas de salud pública, el Ministerio de Salud de la Nación inició las actividades para la realización de la primera “Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo”. ObjetivosDescribir la prevalencia de los principales factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares en la Argentina y su asociación con características sociodemográficas. Material y métodos Desde el 12 marzo y hasta el 17 de junio de 2005 se llevó a cabo la primera Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo. Se utilizó un cuestionario validado previamente para la Argentina, propuesto por la OPS y la OMS. La muestra fue probabilística, a nivel de viviendas, con representatividad nacional y provincial. Criterio de inclusión: población adulta (18 años y más). Se obtuvieron los principales indicadores de prevalencia de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de los CDC, se evaluaron asociaciones entre características sociodemográficas y se estimó la frecuencia de control de presión arterial y colesterol. ResultadosSe realizaron 41.392 encuestas, con una tasa de respuesta del 86,7%. Los principales indicadores a nivel nacional fueron: baja actividad física 46,2%, consumo de tabaco 33,4% 18 a 64 años y 29,7% en adultos, presión arterial elevada 34,4% (en personas que se controlaron), sobrepeso-obesidad 49,1%, bajo consumo de frutas y verduras 35,3%, diabetes 11,9% (en personas que se controlaron), colesterol elevado 27,8% (en personas que se controlaron), consumo de alcohol de riesgo 9,6%. Para casi todos los factores de riesgo evaluados se observó mayor prevalencia en la población de menores ingresos, con necesidades básicas insatisfechas y menor nivel educativo. Se observaron prevalencias significativas también en provincias del NEA y el NOA. Control referido de factores de riesgo: de presión arterial en últimos 2 años 78,7%, de colesterol en mayores de 20 años 56,8%. Prevalencia de riesgo moderado-alto de eventos cardiovasculares observada: 28,4%. ConclusionesEsta primera Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo será de utilidad para el desarrollo de políticas públicas de prevención y control de enfermedades cardiovasculares y será la base de un sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica que permita la toma de decisiones en salud pública.
Resumen es: Aunque se demostro la influencia del medico sobre el paciente fumador para desalentar y controlar la adiccion, esta actitud depende en gran medida de la ...
Background Describing the prevalence and trends of cardiometabolic risk factors that are associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial for monitoring progress, planning prevention, and providing evidence to support policy efforts. We aimed to analyse the transition in body-mass index (BMI), obesity, blood pressure, raised blood pressure, and diabetes in the Americas, between 1980 and 2014. Methods We did a pooled analysis of population-based studies with data on anthropometric measurements, biomarkers for diabetes, and blood pressure from adults aged 18 years or older. A Bayesian model was used to estimate trends in BMI, raised blood pressure (systolic blood pressure >= 140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >= 90 mm Hg), and diabetes (fasting plasma glucose >= 7.0 mmol/L, history of diabetes, or diabetes treatment) from 1980 to 2014, in 37 countries and six subregions of the Americas. Findings 389 population-based surveys from the Americas were available. Comparing prevalence estimates from 2014 with those of 1980, in the non-English speaking Caribbean subregion, the prevalence of obesity increased from 3.9% (95% CI 2.2-6.3) in 1980, to 18.6% (14.3-23.3) in 2014, in men; and from 12.2% (8.2-17.0) in 1980, to 30.5% (25.7-35.5) in 2014, in women. The English-speaking Caribbean subregion had the largest increase in the prevalence of diabetes, from 5.2% (2.1-10.4) in men and 6.4% (2.6-10.4) in women in 1980, to 11.1% (6.4-17.3) in men and 13.6% (8.2-21-0) in women in 2014). Conversely, the prevalence of raised blood pressure has decreased in all subregions; the largest decrease was found in North America from 27.6% (22.3-33.2) in men and 19.9% (15.8-24-4) in women in 1980, to 15.5% (11.1-20.9) in men and 10.7% (7.7-14.5) in women in 2014. Interpretation Despite the generally high prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors across the Americas, estimates also showed a high level of heterogeneity in the transition between countries. The increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes observed over time requires appropriate measures to deal with these public health challenges. Our results support a diversification of health interventions across subregions and countries. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier.
Objetive:To quantify the contribution of risk factors and treatments in the reduction of mortality due to coronary heart disease in Argentina between 1995 and 2010.Results:We used the validated IMPACTCHD model integrating data on effectiveness, use of treatments and changes in the risk factors between 1995 and 2010 in people older than 25 years in Argentina. The difference between the coronary deaths observed and expected in 2010 was distributed between treatments and risk factors.Conclusions:One out of every two MPP due to coronary heart disease in Argentina between 1995 and 2010 was due to treatments and one third to the improvement of risk factors. The decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol and smoking was limited by increases in the prevalence of obesity, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes. This study was possible thanks to the collaborative work to the cardiovascular epidemiology.
Background and Purpose-Epidemiological data about stroke are scarce in low-and middle-income Latin-American countries. We investigated annual incidence of first-ever stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 30-day case-fatality rates in a population-based setting in Tandil, Argentina.Methods-We prospectively identified all first-ever stroke and TIA cases from overlapping sources between January 5, 2013, and April 30, 2015, in Tandil, Argentina. We calculated crude and standardized incidence rates. We estimated 30-day case-fatality rates.Results-We identified 334 first-ever strokes and 108 TIAs. Age-standardized incidence rate per 100000 for Segi's World population was 76.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 67.8-85.9) for first-ever stroke and 25.1 (95% CI, 20.2-30.7) for first-ever TIA, 56.1 (95% CI, 48.8-64.2) for ischemic stroke, 13.5 (95% CI, 9.9-17.9) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 4.9 (95% CI, 2.7-8.1) for subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke incidence was slightly higher for men (87.8; 95% CI, 74.6-102.6) than for women (73.2; 95% CI, 61.7-86.1) when standardized for the Argentinean population. Thirty-day case-fatality rate was 14.7% (95% CI, 10.8-19.5) for ischemic stroke, 24.1% (95% CI, 14.2-36.6) for intracerebral hemorrhage, and 1.9% (95% CI, 0.4-5.8) for TIA.Conclusions-This study provides the first prospective population-based stroke and TIA incidence and case-fatality estimate in Argentina. First-ever stroke incidence was lower than that reported in previous Latin-American studies, but first-ever TIA incidence was higher. Thirty-day case-fatality rates were similar to those of other population-based Latin-American studies.
Background Underweight and severe and morbid obesity are associated with highly elevated risks of adverse health outcomes. We estimated trends in mean body-mass index (BMI), which characterises its population distribution, and in the prevalences of a complete set of BMI categories for adults in all countries.Methods We analysed, with use of a consistent protocol, population-based studies that had measured height and weight in adults aged 18 years and older. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to these data to estimate trends from 1975 to 2014 in mean BMI and in the prevalences of BMI categories (<18.5 kg/m(2) [underweight], 18.5 kg/m(2) to <20 kg/m(2), 20 kg/m(2) to <25 kg/m(2), 25 kg/m(2) to <30 kg/m(2), 30 kg/m(2) to <35 kg/m(2), 35 kg/m(2) to <40 kg/m(2), = 40 kg/m(2) [morbid obesity]), by sex in 200 countries and territories, organised in 21 regions. We calculated the posterior probability of meeting the target of halting by 2025 the rise in obesity at its 2010 levels, if post-2000 trends continue.Findings We used 1698 population-based data sources, with more than 19.2 million adult participants (9.9 million men and 9.3 million women) in 186 of 200 countries for which estimates were made. Global age-standardised mean BMI increased from 21.7 kg/m(2) (95% credible interval 21.3-22.1) in 1975 to 24.2 kg/m(2) (24.0-24.4) in 2014 in men, and from 22.1 kg/m(2) (21.7-22.5) in 1975 to 24.4 kg/m(2) (24.2-24.6) in 2014 in women. Regional mean BMIs in 2014 for men ranged from 21.4 kg/m(2) in central Africa and south Asia to 29.2 kg/m(2) (28.6-29.8) in Polynesia and Micronesia; for women the range was from 21.8 kg/m(2) (21.4-22.3) in south Asia to 32.2 kg/m(2) (31.5-32.8) in Polynesia and Micronesia. Over these four decades, age-standardised global prevalence of underweight decreased from 13.8% (10.5-17.4) to 8.8% (7.4-10.3) in men and from 14.6% (11.6-17.9) to 9.7% (8.3-11.1) in women. South Asia had the highest prevalence of underweight in 2014, 23.4% (17.8-29.2) in men and 24.0% (18.9-29.3) in women. Age-standardised prevalence of obesity increased from 3.2% (2.4-4.1) in 1975 to 10.8% (9.7-12.0) in 2014 in men, and from 6.4% (5.1-7.8) to 14.9% (13.6-16.1) in women. 2.3% (2.0-2.7) of the world's men and 5.0% (4.4-5.6) of women were severely obese (ie, have BMI = 35 kg/m(2)). Globally, prevalence of morbid obesity was 0.64% (0.46-0.86) in men and 1.6% (1.3-1.9) in women.Interpretation If post-2000 trends continue, the probability of meeting the global obesity target is virtually zero. Rather, if these trends continue, by 2025, global obesity prevalence will reach 18% in men and surpass 21% in women; severe obesity will surpass 6% in men and 9% in women. Nonetheless, underweight remains prevalent in the world's poorest regions, especially in south Asia. Copyright (C) NCD Risk Factor Collaboration. Open Access article distributed under the terms of CC BY.
Objective: Early detection, categorization and management of CV risk patients were proved prospectively to reduce costs. A wide amount of information taken from retrospective files, properly handle, may allow evidence on real world patients. To assess the clinical effectiveness and economic impact of the implementation of a disease management program in a health organization in Argentina using retrospective data. Design and Method: Data from 6893 CV screenings (2010–2015) were used. Patients were categorized based on Framingham Score (FS), moderate and high risk then were recategorized using a post-test based on total carotid plaque area; next patients opted for a high risk intensive (HRI) caregiver or an external physicians under pay-for-performance (P4P). Rate of cardiovascular events (CVE) and all direct costs were measured to assess the program's global impact. Next, we define the intervention (HRI) and control groups (P4P) using propensity score matching techniques to obtain pre-treatment comparable populations matched by age, sex, # previous events and FS risk: the events rate, costs and estimated events survival curve was done using survival model. Results: The rate of CVE decreased from 137 (1.89 rate/100patients) to 68 events in 2015 (0.98/100 PAR, −53%): the reduction was greater in >65 y.o. The number of patients with >1 event decreased, as well as the proportion of severe events (22,3% to 16,2%). After matching, no difference in the likelihood to CVE between HRI (316 pts / 12,7% event rate) and P4P (306 / 10,8%) groups: nevertheless, we find a slightly reduction in time to event (median HRI 1156 vs P4P 1000 days) and hospitalization time (HRI 3.61 vs P4P 3.25 days/bed). There were no differences between groups on costs. Conclusions: Programs oriented to detect early CV risk patients and refer properly to HRI can reduce global events rate in a short time of follow up without increase in costs.
La ingesta elevada de sodio se asocia a una mayor incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares y muertes. La reducción de esa ingesta resulta una intervención sanitaria costo-efectiva para la prevención. A través de un enfoque multisectorial, la iniciativa “Menos Sal, Más Vida” logró disminuir el contenido de sodio de los alimentos más consumidos en Argentina con un beneficio sanitario significativo.
Objective. To estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension in Argentina and analyze the trends in the level of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control in the period 1988-2013.Methods. A bibliographic search was conducted in MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS databases for studies on hypertension prevalence conducted from 1988 to 2013. Eligibility criteria for inclusion were as follows: 1) population-based cross-sectional studies and surveys with blood pressure (BP) measurements in which prevalence of hypertension (or data to calculate it) was reported; 2) population-based studies conducted in adults from Argentina (people >= 18 years old); and 3) studies in which the hypertension condition was defined as average systolic BP >= 140 mmHg or diastolic BP >= 90 mmHg or as use of antihypertensive medications.Results. Twenty peer-reviewed publications were identified that reported the prevalence of hypertension for a collective total of 33 397 patients. The crude hypertension prevalence reported for Argentina was 32.34% (95% CI: 30.0-34.1). The prevalence of hypertension in people >= 65 years old was >= 71%. Only nine studies assessed the level of hypertension awareness, treatment, and control (57.9%, 49.5%, and 20.5% respectively). The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor was sedentary habits (54.4%), central (abdominal) obesity (47%), overweight (43.1%), dyslipidemia (34.7%), smoking (27.4%), and diabetes (5.3%).Conclusions. Hypertension is of public health importance in Argentina, with evidence of considerable under-diagnosis and insufficient treatment and control. There is an urgent need to develop strategies to prevent, detect, treat, and control hypertension effectively countrywide.
La vigilancia de las enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT) y sus factores de riesgo es esencial para diseñar y evaluar políticas efectivas. En 2013 se realizó la tercera Encuesta Nacional de Factores de Riesgo de ENT (ENFR). OBJETIVOS: Describir la prevalencia, distribución y evolución de los principales factores de riesgo de las ENT en Argentina. MÉTODOS: Se utilizó un diseño muestral probabilístico, que incluyó una población general de 18 años o más en viviendas pertenecientes a ciudades de más de 5 000 habitantes. RESULTADOS: Se encuestó a 32 365 personas (tasa de respuesta: 70,7%). La prevalencia de obesidad (20,8%) y sobrepeso (37,1%) aumentó en comparación con ENFR previas (2005 y 2009). Se mantuvieron estables la hipertensión arterial (34,1%) y el colesterol elevado (29,8%). El consumo de frutas/verduras (media: dos porciones/día) continuó siendo bajo, mientras que el sedentarismo fue elevado (54,7%). El consumo de tabaco (25,1%), la exposición al humo de tabaco ajeno en bares/restaurantes (23,5%), trabajo (25%) y hogar (27,6%) y la utilización de sal (17,3%) se redujeron significativamente. El 71,6%, 65,6% y 24,5% de la población diana realizó Papanicolaou, mamografía y pruebas de rastreo de cáncer de colon, respectivamente. La cobertura de salud sólo pública se vio asociada a una menor proporción de prácticas preventivas, y las personas con menor nivel educativo tuvieron peores indicadores. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque hubo una mejora en materia de consumo de tabaco y utilización de sal, es necesario intensificar las políticas para el abordaje de las ENT
Background Argentina's congress passed a tobacco control law that would enforce 100% smoke-free environments for the entire country, strong and pictorial health warnings on tobacco products and a comprehensive advertising ban. However, the Executive Branch continues to review the law and it has not been fully implemented. Our objective was to project the potential impact of full implementation of this tobacco control legislation on cardiovascular disease.Methods The Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Policy Model was used to project future cardiovascular events. Data sources for the model included vital statistics, morbidity and mortality data, and tobacco use estimates from the National Risk Factor Survey. Estimated effectiveness of interventions was based on a literature review. Results were expressed as life-years, myocardial infarctions and strokes saved in an 8-year-period between 2012 and 2020. In addition we projected the incremental effectiveness on the same outcomes of a tobacco price increase not included in the law.Results In the period 2012-2020, 7500 CHD deaths, 16900 myocardial infarctions and 4300 strokes could be avoided with the full implementation and enforcement of this law. Annual per cent reduction would be 3% for CHD deaths, 3% for myocardial infarctions and 1% for stroke. If a tobacco price increase is implemented the projected avoided CHD deaths, myocardial infarctions and strokes would be 15500, 34600 and 11900, respectively.Conclusions Implementation of the tobacco control law would produce significant public health benefits in Argentina. Strong advocacy is needed at national and international levels to get this law implemented throughout Argentina.
Reducing dietary salt is one of the most effective interventions to lessen the burden of premature death and disability. In high-income countries and those in nutrition transition, processed foods are a significant if not the main source of dietary salt. Reformulating these products to reduce their salt content is recommended as a best buy to prevent chronic diseases across populations. In the Americas, there are targets and timelines for reduced salt content of processed foods in 8 countries--Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, and the National Salt Reduction Initiative in the United States and Paraguay. While there are common elements across the countries, there are notable differences in their approaches: 4 countries have exclusively voluntary targets, 2 countries have combined voluntary and regulated components, and 1 country has only regulations. The countries have set different types of targets and in some cases combined them: averages, sales-weighted averages, upper limits, and percentage reductions. The foods to which the targets apply vary from single categories to comprehensive categories accounting for all processed products. The most accessible and transparent targets are upper limits per food category. Most likely to have a substantive and sustained impact on salt intake across whole populations is the combination of sales-weighted averages and upper limits. To assist all countries with policies to improve the overall nutritional value of processed foods, the authors call for food companies to supply food composition data and product sales volume data to transparent and open-access platforms and for global companies to supply the products that meet the strictest targets to all markets. Countries participating in common markets at the subregional level can consider harmonizing targets, nutrition labels, and warning labels.
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of deaths worldwide. The MPOWER package, the six recommended policies of the World Health Organization (WHO) to reverse the tobacco epidemic, strongly recommends monitoring tobacco use trends. Because evidence indicates that smoking addiction often starts before the age of 18 years, there is a need to monitor tobacco use among youths. During 2011, a National Tobacco Control Law was enacted in Argentina that included implementation of 100% smoke-free environments, a comprehensive advertising ban (prohibiting advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of cigarettes or tobacco products through any media or communications outlets), pictorial health warnings, and a prohibition against the sale of tobacco products through any means to persons aged <18 years. To ascertain trends in tobacco use among youths in Argentina, the Argentina Ministry of Health and CDC analyzed data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) for 2007 and 2012 (the next year that it was administered in Argentina). The findings indicated that the overall proportion of youths aged approximately 13-15 years who reported ever smoking a cigarette declined from 52.0% in 2007 to 41.9% in 2012 with significant decreases among both males and females. In 2012, 52.5% of youths in Argentina reported secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in their homes and 47.5% in enclosed public places in the 7 days preceding the survey. Increased public education and tobacco control efforts will be important to discouraging tobacco use and decreasing SHS exposure among youths in Argentina.
INTRODUCTION:In 2007 and 2012, the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) were implemented to estimate the prevalence of risk behaviors and protection factors among 13 to 15 year-old adolescents.OBJECTIVE:To assess changes in dietary, body weight, tobacco and physical activity indicators in the past five years.POPULATION AND METHODS:Cross-sectional study. A randomized, two-stage sampling with 600 schools selected at a national level was used. Students from randomly selected courses were invited to answer a self-administered questionnaire (either the GSHS or the GYTS).RESULTS:In 2012, the GSHS was completed by 20 697 students from 544 schools, while the GYTS was completed by 2062 students from 73 schools. Between 2007 and 2012, overweight and obesity prevalence significantly increased (overweight: 24.5% in 2007, 28.6% in 2012; obesity 4.4% in 2007, 5.9% in 2012), while the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fast food remained high. A slight improvement was observed in the level of physical activity (12.7% in 2007, 16.7% in 2012), although it remains below what is recommended. The prevalence of tobacco use was reduced (24.5% in 2007, 19.6% in 2012), but access to tobacco products and exposure to secondhand smoke remains high in public places, including schools.CONCLUSIONS:The spread of the overweight and obesity epidemic calls for a need to consolidate actions tending towards a healthy diet and physical activity. Despite a decrease in the prevalence of tobacco use, it is necessary to continue strengthening tobacco control actions.
Las encuestas nacionales de factores de riesgo (ENFR) forman parte del sistema estadístico nacional y se realizan con una periodicidad de cuatro años. OBJETIVOS: Analizar, a través de una revisión sistemática de los estudios publicados, la utilización de los datos de las ENFR. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una búsqueda en PubMed y SciELO, y se sumaron artículos identificados a partir de las citas aportadas por artículos de revisión y recomendaciones de autores. RESULTADOS: Se seleccionaron 17 estudios de investigación publicados, 12 en inglés y 5 en español, entre 2006 y 2014. En ellos se analizaron los siguientes temas: actividad física baja, hipertensión, control de colesterol, diabetes, obesidad, utilización de servicios preventivos, autopercepción de salud, tabaquismo, exposición al humo de tabaco ajeno y disposición a dejar de fumar, alimentación (consumo de frutas y/o verduras), utilización de sal y consumo de alcohol de riesgo. CONCLUSIONES: La ENFR no sólo constituye una herramienta fundamental para el monitoreo de la epidemia de enfermedades no transmisibles, sino que también es una fuente de datos útil para profundizar el entendimiento de la epidemia a través de estudios de investigación.
Background: Limited knowledge on the prevalence and distribution of risk factors impairs the planning and implementation of cardiovascular prevention programs in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region.Methods and Findings: Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, abnormal lipoprotein levels, obesity, and smoking were estimated from individual-level patient data pooled from population-based surveys (1998-2007, n = 31,009) from eight LAC countries and from a national survey of the United States (US) population (1999-2004) Age and gender specific prevalence were estimated and age-gender adjusted comparisons between both populations were conducted. Prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in LAC were 5% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 3.4, 7.9), 20.2% (95% CI: 12.5, 31), and 53.3% (95% CI: 47, 63.4), respectively. Compared to LAC region's average, the prevalence of each risk factor tended to be lower in Peru and higher in Chile. LAC women had higher prevalence of obesity and low HDL-cholesterol than men. Obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia were more prevalent in the US population than in LAC population (31 vs. 16.1%, 16.8 vs. 8.9%, and 36.2 vs. 26.5%, respectively). However, the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was higher in LAC than in the US (53.3 vs. 33.7%).Conclusions: Major cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent in LAC region, in particular low HDL-cholesterol. In addition, marked differences do exist in this prevalence profile between LAC and the US. The observed patterns of obesity-related risk factors and their current and future impact on the burden of cardiovascular diseases remain to be explained.
INTRODUCTION: The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) is the world standard to systematically monitor tobacco consumption and the main indicators for tobacco control. OBJECTIVE: To monitor tobacco epidemic in adults in Argentina with a standardized tool suggested by the World Health Organization. METHODS: A globally standardized methodology was used to gather information on tobacco use (smoking and smokeless), cessation, second-hand smoke (SHS), economics, media, and knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco use. A multi-stage stratified cluster sample design was used to produce representative data both at national and regional level. RESULTS: Tobacco smoking prevalence was 22.3%, with a higher rate in men (29.6%) than in women (15.7%). A total of 73.6% of the smokers had planned or was planning to quit, and 48.6% had made a quit attempt in the previous year. Among adults working in enclosed places 31.6% were exposed to SHS, and 33% were exposed at home. Besides, 75.8% obtained anti-cigarette smoking information on mass media, while 41.9% noticed advertising at cigarette stores. CONCLUSIONS: The survey allowed a better understanding of tobacco epidemic in Argentina and also a comparison with other countries in the world.
Objective.To identify main barriers to preventing cardiovascular disease and implementing clinical practice guidelines in primary care, to pilot implementation of a tailored enactment of the adapted World Health Organization guidelines to prevent cardiovascular disease, and to assess the impact of the intervention in risk stratification.Methods.A qualitative study was done with decision makers, health professionals, and staff from five primary health care centers, who were interviewed to identify the main barriers.A tailored intervention to apply the guidelines was then designed and implemented.To assess the impact of the intervention on risk factor screening, a before-and-after analysis was performed through a records review of independent samples of patients aged 40 years or older attending each center.Results.The main barriers identified were lack of awareness of guidelines and lack of knowledge about preventing cardiovascular disease, communication problems within health teams, lack of motivation, and organizational problems.Before (n = 226) and after (n = 234) the intervention, screening of the main risk factors increased: blood pressure measurement from 44.3% to 72.6%, cholesterol measurement from 20.7% to 49.7%, smoking status assessment from 20.4% to 56.1%, diabetes status assessment from 25.5% to 93.6%, and previous vascular event status from 33.2% to 74.3%.Global risk stratification was not done at baseline, compared with 45.1% after the intervention.Conclusions.The main barriers identified were useful in designing a tailored intervention.Although no clinical outcomes were evaluated, this study shows that the implementation is feasible, with increased risk stratification as a first step at better patient management.