[Prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and risk factors in rural population of San Luis, Argentina]

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular risk factors in a rural population in the province of San Luis, Argentina. Cross-sectional study developed between September and November 2017 with 18-year-old inhabitants and more than four towns in the Juan Martín de Pueyrredón department, San Luis. The participants answered questions by self-report on sociodemographic aspects, habits, psychosocial and risk factors for non-communicable diseases; physical measurements, FINDIRSC questionnaire and blood sample extraction were performed. Univariate estimates stratified by sex with their 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were obtained. We worked with sample expansion factors; crude and adjusted prevalences were calculated. The population consisted of 424 men (52.5%, 95%CI: 46.0-58.9) and 384 women (47.5%, 95%CI: 41.1-54.0). The adjusted prevalences for both sexes (by self-report) were: DM 11.8% (95%CI: 8.2-15.4); arterial hypertension (AHT): 35.5% (95% CI: 31.0-40.1); high cholesterol: 20.3% (CI 16.0-24.7). Males had significantly higher desirable HDL cholesterol and elevated blood pressure than females; women abdominal obesity in greater magnitude. 16.4% (95% CI: 11.0 - 23.6) had a high-very high risk of developing type 2 DM in the next 10 years. The adjusted prevalences of DM, hypertension, and high cholesterol were lower than those of the urban population of the province of San Luis. We highlight the pioneering contribution of this work to the knowledge of the health profile of rural communities in Argentina.