title: Prevalence and correlates of coronary heart disease: first population-based study in Lebanon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lebanon is experiencing a growing epidemic of coronary heart diseases (CHDs), as most low- and middle-income countries currently are. However, this growth can be attenuated if effective preventive strategies are adopted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide the first national population-based prevalence of CHD and to describe the profile of Lebanese adults with prevalent CHD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a cross-sectional study using a multistage cluster sample across Lebanon. We interviewed residents aged 40 years and older using a questionnaire that captured the presence of CHDs and their risk factors (RFs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study showed that 13.4% of the Lebanese population aged ≥40 years suffer from a prevalent CHD. CHD seemed to appear more prematurely than in developed countries, and males seemed to be more subject to CHD than females until a certain age. CHD was associated with older age, male sex, a lower economic situation, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, having a family history of premature cardiovascular diseases, and suffering from diabetes. However, smoking and waist circumference did not seem to have an independent effect on CHD, but rather an effect mediated by biological RFs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first nationwide endeavor conducted in Lebanon to assess the prevalence of CHD. This study also confirms the relevance of the classic RFs of CHD and their applicability to the Lebanese population, thus allowing for prevention strategies.
authors.affiliation: Doctoral School of Biology Health and Biotechnologies, Toulouse III University, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Rouba Karen
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Zeidan
authors.affiliation: Doctoral School of Life and Health Sciences, Paris-Est University, Creteil, France.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farah
authors.affiliation: Foundation-Medical Research Institutes, F-MRI , Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Mirna N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Chahine
authors.affiliation: Foundation-Medical Research Institutes, F-MRI , Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asmar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Henri Mondor Hospital AP-HP, France; EA 4391, Nerve Excitability and Therapeutics, Université Paris-Est, Creteil, France.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon; Laboratory of Clinical and Epidemiology Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salameh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hypertension, Risk Factors and Heart Failure Unit, Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: coronary heart disease; correlates; epidemiology; prevalence; risk factors