Potential benefits of controlling coronary heart disease risk factors in the United Arab Emirates.
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular risk factors including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, are highly prevalent in the United Arab Emirates. In spite of significant awareness initiatives, little is known about the potential benefits of controlling these risk factors.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of preventable risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD), and the likely benefits of controlling these risk factors.


METHODS
In a health survey stratified by self-reported hypertension, we enrolled 349 hypertensive and 641 normotensive subjects of diverse ethnicity in Al-Ain city, and measured CHD risk factors. We used the Framingham risk score to estimate the proportion of CHD potentially preventable by controlling hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), and smoking.


RESULTS
Smoking was similar in the two groups (hypertensives 13.2% vs. normotensives 14.2%). The prevalence of diabetes, dyslipidemia [mean (SD) triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)], overweight/obesity, and thus the 10-year Framingham risk were all significantly (p < 0.001) higher among hypertensive than normotensives.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevention of type 2 DM, aggressive control of hypertension and dyslipidemia, and smoking cessation could potentially reduce the 10-year incidence of CHD. Barriers include lack of awareness of this problem among the general population and health care providers.
Abdulle
Abdishakur M
AM
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. shakur.a@uaeu.ac.ae
Nagelkerke
Nico J D
NJ
Abouchacra
Samra
S
Obineche
Enyioma N
EN
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014479:United Arab Emirates