Coronary artery disease in critical patients of Iran.

OBJECTIVE To identify the risk factors for Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD), such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, age, obesity, immobility and diabetes mellitus, in critical patients of Sistan-Baluchistan (SB), Iran. METHODS This cross-sectional research was performed in 2006. The sampling method was convenience, and involved 616 hospitalised patients in the CCUs of hospitals of Sistan-Baluchistan province. Data was collected by structured interview and a checklist which included personal characteristics and risk factors like lifestyles as well as biochemical and physiological factors for CAD. SPSS software, Chi-square and exact fisher tests were used for analysis. RESULTS Frequency of risk factors among patients with CAD was found to be high in the study area. Also, the results showed that the prevalence of some risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus 198 (32.5%), hypertension 266 (43.7%) and obesity 131 (22.9%), was significantly higher in women than men. Besides, there was a significant relationship between smoking, 317(52.3%) and low mobility 503 (83.3%), with gender (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Clinical and para-clinical data indicated that the adult population has a high level of CAD risk factors in the Sistan-Baluchistan province which may require urgent steps to address national control measures regarding CAD. Implementation of a prevention programme is necessary in order to reduce the risk factors. Also, health education is necessary, specially for women.