Ramadan Fasting And Cardiac Biomarkers In Patients With Multiple Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Abstract

Objectives: The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of fasting during Ramadan on cardiovascular bio-markers [high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1)] with other conventional cardiovascular risk factors like diabetes (DM), hypertension (HPT) and dyslipidaemia before, during and after Ramadan of the subjects under study. Methodology: It was a prospective cohort study with 76 subjects (41 males and 35 females) who were observed before during and after Ramadan.).At each visit anthropometric parameters were measured including the body weight, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. Blood was analyzed for metabolic index [fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting serum lipids], hs-CRP and PAI-1.More than 50% of the subjects under study had 4 risk factors such as DM, HPT, dyslipidaemia and either family history of CAD or smoking. Results: A significant reduction of hs-CRP and PAI-1 was observed during Ramadan compared to pre-Ramadan (p < 0.001 and 0.031). The reduction of PAI-1 levels was continued till post-Ramadan (p = 0.005). A rebound in the levels of hs-CRP was observed in post-Ramadan compared to Ramadan (p < 0.001).Significant (p<.001) reduction of the body weight, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was observed during Ramadan compared to pre-Ramadan and post-Ramadan. LDL-C levels were reduced during and post-Ramadan, (p = 0.037 and p = 0.030), however, no significant effect on triglyceride and total cholesterol was found throughout the study. Conclusion: The practice of fasting during the month of Ramadan by the people with multiple CVD risks might be cardio-protective as it resulted in the lowering of both hs-CRP and PAI-1. However this benefit is short-lived as the hs-CRP rebound a month later. Ramadan fasting practice was found to give short-term benefit against cardiovascular diseases among the patients with multiple cardiovascular risks factors.