Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Patients with Confirmed Cardiovascular Disease

Background- We aimed to assess the magnitude of the problem of cardiovascular risk factors in hospitalized patients and to establish cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profiles. Methods- We selected 476 confirmed CVD patients by a multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling technique in Tabriz Heart Center. After obtaining demographic information and performing physical examination, we measured biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed with SPSS 10.05, and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results- Obesity was the most common abnormality (93.5%), followed by diabetes mellitus (58.4%), low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (45.4%), low physical activity (41.6%), high total cholesterol (TC) (40.1%), high triglycerides (TG) (37.2%), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (30.7%), diastolic hypertension (28.4%), high systolic blood pressure (24.8%) and smoking (20%). Ninety-three percent, 43%, 16% and 5% of patients had one, two, three and four risk factors for CVD, respectively. The prevalence of lipid disorders in females was more than that in males, except for low HDL-c (p<0.05). Among the lipid profiles, only TG had a relationship with age (p<0.05). Obesity was accompanied by lipid profile abnormality, such that low serum levels of HDL-c and high levels of TG, TC and LDL-c were more common in obese patients (p<0.05). Conclusion- This study revealed a high prevalence of risk factors in the CVD patients; thus modification of lifestyles is urgently needed (Iranian Heart Journal 2007; 8 (4): 47-52).