CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of risk factors of coronary artery disease(CAD) in healthy male paramedical staff of our hospital. Study Design: Descriptive study. Placeand Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of HeartDiseases, Rawalpindi, from January 2009 to June 2009. Methodology: Three Sixty Three (363)healthy male paramedical staff members were studied. Patients with heart disease, chronic liverand kidney diseases were excluded. Presence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia,physical activity, a family history of (CAD) and medication was documented. Fasting bloodglucose, lipid profile, uric acid levels were done. Body mass index and waist circumferencewere measured and Waist to Hip ratio calculated. Data was analysed using SPSS-20. Ten yearrisk was calculated using Heart Score software. Results: Mean age of subjects was 31.85 ±8.10 years. Maximum number of patients (152, 41.9%) aged between 31 to 40 years. Smokingwas documented in 76 (20.9%), hypertension in 26 (7.2%), diabetes in 27 (7.4%) and a familyhistory of premature CAD was recorded in 26 (7.2%) persons. Eighty (22.01%) patients wereoverweight (BMI = 25-29.9) while 26 (7.2%) were obese (BMI >30). Waist circumference > 94cm was found in 79 (21.8%). High cholesterol (>200 mg/dl) was documented in 33 (9.1% ) ,high LDL( >100 mg/dl ) in 68 (18.7% ), low HDL in 92 (25.4%) and high triglycerides (>150mg /dl) in 116(32%) persons. Conclusions: Dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, hypertension anddiabetes were most frequent risk factors. Public awareness to control risk factors can reducethe prevalence of CAD.