Prevalence of risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis in a cross-sectional population of Andhra Pradesh.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis is increasing in India due to changing socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. Data for the state of Andhra Pradesh are scanty in this regard.


RESULTS
The prevalence of conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis was prospectively assessed in a unique sample of 3307 workers of a political party drawn from all over the state of Andhra Pradesh. Demographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory data were collected prospectively over a period of 6 months. The mean age of the subjects was 43.12+/-9.5 years, 2955 (88%) were males and 385 (12%) females. The prevalence of risk factors was as follows: diabetes in 810 (24%); hypertension in 924 (28%); lipid abnormality in 1908 (58%); smoking in 805 (24%) and positive family history in 555 (17%). Obesity was prevalent in 1178 (36%) of the population. All coronary risk factors, excepting family history, were significantly more prevalent in males [diabetes: 777 (26%) v. 34 (9%), p<0.001; hypertension: 833 (28%) v. 72 (19%), p<0.001; lipid abnormality: 1729 (59%) v. 172 (45%), p<0.001; smoking: 801 (27%) v. 7 (2%), p<0.001; and family history: 497 (17%) v. 60 (16%), p=0.54]. Region-wise analysis showed a high prevalence of diabetes in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, hypertension in the Andhra region, and smoking in the Rayalaseema region. Lipid disorders were equally prevalent in all the regions.


CONCLUSIONS
The present report shows a disturbing burden of coronary risk factors in the study population. There is an urgent need to undertake population-based measures to reverse the trend.
Reddy
N Krishna
NK
Department of Medicine, CARE Hospitals, Hyderabad, AP. nkreddy@carehospitals.com
Kumar
D N
DN
Rayudu
N V
NV
Sastry
B K S
BK
Raju
B Soma
BS
D000328:Adult; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology