Relación entre el perfil lipídico y el riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares en adultos ecuatorianos: un enfoque diferencial por sexo y edad.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are among the leading causes of mortality both globally and in the Ecuadorian context. Among the multiple risk factors contributing to their occurrence, dyslipidemia holds a relevant position, making it essential to understand how the lipid profile varies according to sex and age, and how these variations are associated with the presence of CVD. This research aimed to evaluate the lipid profile in patients aged ≥35 years treated at the General Hospital of Latacunga in August 2024, differentiating the results by sex and age in order to identify cardiovascular risk patterns and contribute to the development of prevention strategies for these diseases. An observational, analytical, and retrospective study with a quantitative approach was conducted, based on the analysis of 3,192 anonymized clinical records of patients treated in the cardiology department. Levels of total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were considered, along with sociodemographic and clinical variables. The analysis included descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, and binary logistic regression. The results revealed a high prevalence of dyslipidemias: 46.14% of patients had hypercholesterolemia (TC ≥200 mg/dL), 59.15% had elevated LDL-C levels (≥100 mg/dL), and 42.55% presented hypertriglyceridemia (TG ≥200 mg/dL), with women being the most affected across all age groups analyzed. However, no statistically significant associations were found between the evaluated biochemical variables and the presence of cardiovascular events (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, physical activity (p = 0.125) and economic status (p = 0.083) showed clinical trends that may be relevant for future studies. In conclusion, a high prevalence of lipid disorders was evidenced among Ecuadorian adults over 35 years of age, with a greater impact on middle-aged and elderly women. Although no significant association was observed between lipid profile and cardiovascular diseases in this sample, the findings highlight the importance of considering other factors in risk models and promoting more comprehensive and personalized prevention strategies.