Lifestyle of patients with coronary artery disease hospitalized in the heart department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital of Birjand and its association with some cardiovascular risk factors

Background: Lifestyle modification plays the most important role in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to assess the lifestyle of patients admitted to the cardiology department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand from August 2014 to April 2015 and determine its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 patients hospitalized in the heart department were incorporated by census. The data were gathered using Breslow’s Lifestyle Index and a researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic characteristics of patients, history of heart disease, smoking, type of oil daily consumed, the frequency of different foods taken per week, and the results of tests taken on patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22) using t-test and ANOVA. Results: The mean age of the patients was 60.7±13.4 years. The majority 203 (50.8%) were male; 190 (47.5%) had diabetes; 181 (45.2%) suffered from obesity and overweight, 25% had high systolic blood pressure; and 10.5% had high diastolic blood pressure. Also, 14.2% were smokers. The mean score of participants on Breslow’s Lifestyle Index was 5.61±1.11, which was significantly higher in overweight and obese subjects than subjects with normal weight (P=0.001). Conclusions: Some lifestyle indices in patients hospitalized in the heart department of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Birjand are undesirable, and their lifestyles need to be modified.