Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in French adults in 2015 and time trends since 2006

Background Few data are available on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in French adults. Purpose The aims were to (i) estimate the prevalence of overweight or obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia LDL, diabetes, tobacco use and the level of physical activity in a representative sample of French adults in 2015 (ii) describe trends between the two French national studies: ENNS-2006 and Esteban-2015. Methods Esteban was implemented between 2014 and 2016 in a national sample including 18–74-year-old adults. Data were collected by questionnaires and a clinical and biological exam (height, weight and three blood pressure measurements, blood sample) were realized. Treatments were obtained by matching Esteban data with reimbursement data of the SNIIRAM. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg or hypertensive treatment and hypercholesterolemia-LDL as LDLc > 1.6 g/L or lipid lowering treatment. Results In 2015, 54% of men and 44% of women were overweight or obese; tobacco smoking concern 33% of men and 25% of women and treated diabetes 5.4% and 1.3% respectively. The prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia-LDL was respectively 36% and 30% in men and 25% and 24% in women. Regarding physical activity, 53% of women and 70% of men reached the WHO recommendations. Since ENNS-2006, cardiovascular risk factors remained almost stable in men. In women, the prevalence of tobacco smoking, overweight (including obesity) in 40–54 age group, the mean level of systolic blood pressure under 64 years increased between 2006 and 2015, while the level of physical activity decreased whatever the age. In both gender, the decrease of the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia-LDL was due to the lower proportion of treated patients, mean LDL cholesterol was similar in 2015 and 2006. Conclusion Cardiovascular risk factors remain at a high level in 2015. The evolution of risk profile was stable in men but rather unfavorable in women between 2006 and 2015.