Study of Risk Factors for Coronary Artery Disease in Young Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease

Abstract

Introduction: Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the commonest cause of mortality worldwide. It has been documented that younger age group people are developing the diseases frequently than before in last couple of years. Various studies show that in comparison with older patients these patients have single vessel disease, has more profound hypercholesterolemia, significant positive family history and history of smoking. Objective: To evaluate different risk factors in patients below 40 years of age suffering from coronary heart disease. Methodology: A study of young patients with CAD was carried out in the Dept. Of Medicine who attended the Dhiraj General Hospital, Pipariya, Waghodiya, Vadodara, Gujarat. Total 63 young with the age range of 18 to 40 years patients with CAD who visited the hospital during the time of Jan’2013 to June’2015 for the treatment of it were included. A detail history of all the subjects included in the study group was obtained from the available hospital data or on follow-up. Results: A total of 63 cases were included. Smoking was present in 33.33 % of the subjects. All the smokers in the study were males. Sedentary lifestyle as a risk factor was present in 20.64 % of the subjects. Family history of coronary artery disease was present in 47.62 % of the subjects. Generalized obesity was present in 36.51 % of our subjects. In the study, 74.8 % of the subjects had dyslipidemia as a risk factor. Increased cholesterol was noted in 14.3% subjects. Hypercholesterolemia mainly increased LDL, VLDL and decreased HDL are important risk factors. Hypertension was a risk factor in 14.29 % and Diabetes in 9.52% of the subjects. xi Conclusions: Dyslipidemia was a major risk factor in young adults followed by family history, followed by obesity and smoking. Hypertension and sedentary life style were the other less important risk factors. The majority of risk factors were equally prevalent in males as well as females except smoking which was less prevalent in females. Considering the increasing incidence of the coronary heart disease in our society it is essential to assess and evaluate these risk factors at national level.