Door-to-Door Survey of Cardiovascular Health, Stroke, and Ischemic Heart Disease in Rural Coastal Ecuador – the Atahualpa Project: Methodology and Operational Definitions

Abstract

Implementation of public health strategies directed to improve the cardiovascular health status of a given population must be based on studies evaluating specific risk factors at regional levels. Epidemiologic surveys such as the Atahualpa Project may prove cost-effective in improving the cardiovascular health status of people living in Latin American rural villages by increasing the knowledge on the particular needs of these populations.