Modifiable risk factor levels of coronary heart disease survivors in a middle-aged workforce

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is common in New Zealand. Risk factors for CHD are modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factor levels of CHD survivors were compared with those without such a history (non-CHD).

Participants were from a cross-sectional survey of 5,656 workers aged > or = 40. CHD survivors were 73 general practitioner (GP)-confirmed participants with a history of hospitalisation for CHD. There were no significant differences in mean blood pressure levels between CHD survivors and non-CHD workers after adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity, but current use of antihypertensive medications was higher in CHD survivors (34.2%) than non-CHD workers (8.1%); p < 0.001. CHD survivors had higher, similarly adjusted, mean serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and lower HDL-cholesterol levels, and their reported carbohydrate, fibre, polyunsaturated fat intakes and ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat intakes were higher and total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat intakes were lower. CHD survivors ate fewer servings of red meats per month and more servings of fruit, and cereal, and number of cups of milk. Salt added to meals was lower and margarine use higher in CHD survivors. There were no significant differences in the proportions of those who exercised regularly, or were current cigarette smokers. However, more CHD survivors (57.5%) than non-CHD workers (33.1%) were ex-smokers p < 0.001, who had stopped smoking at a higher mean (se) age (41.1 (1.36) vs 37.6 (0.20) years respectively; p = 0.012).

A large proportion of CHD survivors were dyslipidaemic, despite consuming a lower fat, higher fibre and carbohydrate diet. More than 50% of CHD survivors were ex-cigarette smokers, who had given up smoking at a later age than non-CHD workers. These high-risk CHD survivors would benefit from more aggressive measures aimed at correcting their dyslipidaemias.