Impact of fasting in Ramadan in patients with cardiac disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether Ramadan fasting has any effect on patients with heart disease.


METHODS
We prospectively studied 465 outpatients with heart disease who were fasting during the month of Ramadan from October 24 to November 24, 2003. These studied subjects were from various medical centers in the Gulf region; State of Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. We performed detailed clinical assessments one month before Ramadan, during Ramadan and one month after Ramadan and analyzed predictors of outcome.


RESULTS
Overall, the mean age was 55.9+/-11.3 years (age range 32-72). Of the 465 patients treated, 363 (78.1%) were males and 102 (21.9%) females. Among them, 119 (25.6%) patients had congestive heart failure, 288 (62%) patients with angina, 22 (4.7%) patients with atrial fibrillation and 11 (2.4%) patients with prosthetic metallic valves. Three hundred and seventy (79%) had prior myocardial infarction (MI), 195 (17.2%) had prior coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), and 177 (38%) had prior percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). At the time of follow-up, we found that 91.2% could fast and only 6.7% felt worse while fasting in Ramadan. Of the studied subjects, 82.8% were compliant with cardiac medications and 68.8% were compliant with dietary instructions. We hospitalized 19 patients during Ramadan for cardiac reasons (unstable angina, worsening heart failure, MI, uncontrolled hypertension, subtherapeutic anticoagulation or arrhythmias)


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of fasting during Ramadan on stable patients with cardiac disease are minimal. Most patients with stable cardiac disease can fast.
Al Suwaidi
Jassim
J
Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital and Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, State of Qatar. jha01@hmc.org.qa
Zubaid
Mohammad
M
Al-Mahmeed
Wael A
WA
Al-Rashdan
Ibrahim
I
Amin
Haitham
H
Bener
Abdulbari
A
Hadi
Hadi R
HR
Helmy
Ashraf
A
Hanifah
Mohammed
M
Al-Binali
Hajar A
HA
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001445:Bahrain / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005215:Fasting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate