Assessment of Selected Coronary Risk Factors in Adult Kuwaiti Males

Abstract

To obtain and assess baseline information relating to coronary risk factors and to identify individuals at high risk, 269 adult Kuwaiti men, aged 20–49 years, were examined during 1985 and 1986. They took part in response to invitations sent to a randomly selected sample. The response rate was not more than 34%, and those with signs of coronary heart disease (CHD) were excluded from the study. The participants were stratified into three age groups: 20–29, 30–39 and 40–49 years. The factors assessed were exercise time, serum lipids and an array of physiological and anthropometric parameters. Between 60 and 75% of the investigated subjects showed serum cholesterol levels above 220 mg/dl, indicating the need for dietary or clinical intervention to lower the serum lipids, while 75–90% were overweight, indicating the need for weight control. The high ratio of cholesterol to high-density lipoproteins, a short exercise time, cigarette smoking, elevated blood pressure, a family and personal history of CHD, affluent socioeconomic status, triglycerides, body fat and a raised serum glucose level were estimated to be the main indicators for CHD in this sample.