Publication:

Evaluation of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among patients at RIMS hospital in Ranchi, Jharkhand

Background The substantial death toll and disability caused by the global rise in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can be largely reduced by assessing and managing the associated risk factors. The 40-69 years age group is most vulnerable to CVDs, accounting for 45% of all deaths. Data on this context for the state of Jharkhand is lacking and the present study was initiated to bridge the gap.

Methods Risk assessment of common people and patients of CVD was done following WHO’s STEP-wise approach to the surveillance of chronic disease risk factors (WHO 2001) using a structured questionnaire, measurement of anthropometrical parameters, and biochemical analysis of blood samples.

Results The incidence of CVD is higher in men than in women (8:2), and common risk factors were abnormal lipid parameters and obesity. Compared to asymptomatic common people not under any treatment, CVD patients not under therapeutic intervention to lower lipid levels had a 48-, 34-, and 17-fold higher chance of having aberrant total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and cholesterol ratio (CR), respectively. Low serum levels of HDL are 3.37 times more likely to occur in females than males. The majority of female patients develop CVD between the ages of 40 and 69; however, 89% of all patients were in the 30-50-year-old age range.

Conclusions Males are more prone than females to develop CVD mainly due to deranged lipid profiles; nevertheless, between 40 -69 ages, the occurrence of female (68%) patients outnumbers male (63%) patients mainly due to menopause and related metabolic syndromes.