Prediction of Cardiovascular Risk among Healthcare Professionals using Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Aurangabad, India

Abstract

Background: The current scenario of long working hours, sedentary lifestyle, and occupational stress has led to an increased prevalence of noncommunicable risk factors among the medical fraternity. Hence, determining the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has become highly essential to curb the predisposing factors leading to it. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to cluster the cardiovascular risk factors among healthcare professionals and to estimate the ASCVD Risk Score among healthcare professionals of a teaching hospital in Aurangabad. Methods: A population of 200 subjects were considered for the study. Cardiovascular risk factors such as age, race, gender, diabetes mellitus, antihypertensive medications, dyslipidemia, alcohol consumption, smoking, family history of hypertension, physical activity, waist circumference (central obesity), obesity, and stress/mental status were studied. Assessing each of its prevalence to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease using ASCVD Risk Score formed the crux of the study. Results: On assessing the risk factors in all subjects, it was found that type 2 diabetes mellitus (34.6%), dyslipidemia (32%), and hypertension (22.09%) were predominantly seen among majority of the healthcare professionals. The average lifetime ASCVD Score among healthcare professionals was 57.8%. It was observed that as age advances, the risk of developing an ASCVD also increased. Conclusion: Utilizing a simple tool such as the ASCVD Risk Score Calculator can not only predict the risk of ASCVD but can also help initiate preventive strategies and prolong the life of a medico!