Caracterización de salud cardiovascular en adultos

OBJECTIVE: To characterize cardiovascular health in adults using the Life’s Simple 7 questionnaire in patients attending the outpatient clinic of Hospital Nacional Nicolasa Cruz, Jalapa, during September and October 2025. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 250 patients. Data collection was carried out through the application of the Life’s Simple 7 questionnaire of the American Heart Association, which evaluates seven metrics: smoking, physical activity, diet, body mass index, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A slight predominance of females was observed (52.8%). The population consisted mainly of young and middle-aged adults (31.2% and 25.2%, respectively). A total of 59.6% were non-smokers; however, 92% did not engage in regular physical activity and 65% were overweight. Regarding diet, 51.2% reported consuming between two and three healthy components. In clinical parameters, 60.8% had normal cholesterol levels, 53.6% ideal blood pressure, and 43% ideal blood glucose, while 39% showed hyperglycemia. Overall, the predominant level of cardiovascular health was intermediate (48%). CONCLUSION: Most of the evaluated adults present an intermediate level of cardiovascular health, with a high prevalence of sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and hyperglycemia. These findings highlight the need to strengthen educational interventions focused on body weight control, promotion of physical activity, and improvement of dietary habits, targeting the components of Life’s Simple 7 to optimize cardiovascular health indicators.