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Anthropometry, lipid profile and dietary pattern of patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease
B U Vajifdar1, V S Goyal, Y Y Lokhandwala
1Department of Cardiology, Seth G. S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India.
Insights
Indian patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) exhibit central obesity and abnormal lipid profiles despite low-fat diets. This suggests unrecognized IHD risk factors in this ethnic group, contributing to their high incidence rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) incidence is notably high among Indian populations globally.
- Traditional risk factors may not fully explain the high IHD burden in Indians, necessitating investigation into unique contributing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate anthropometric, lipid profile, and dietary characteristics of Indian patients with chronic IHD.
- To explore potential unrecognized risk factors for IHD in the Indian population.
Main Methods:
- Anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist:hip ratio) and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides) were assessed in 114 IHD patients.
- Dietary intake, including caloric breakdown and cholesterol consumption, was evaluated against NCEP guidelines.
- Patient demographics (age, sex) were recorded.
Main Results:
- Patients presented with near-normal BMI but high waist:hip ratios, indicating central obesity.
- Despite low dietary cholesterol intake, lipid profiles showed marginally elevated total cholesterol, low HDL, high LDL, and an abnormal total:HDL ratio.
- Serum triglyceride levels were on the higher side of normal.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the hypothesis of unique and unrecognized IHD risk factors in Indians.
- Central obesity and dyslipidemia in the context of a low-fat diet highlight the need for revised IHD risk assessment in this population.
- Further research is crucial to identify specific genetic or environmental factors contributing to the high IHD incidence in Indians.
Abstract:
The anthropometry, lipid profile and dietary characteristics of 114 patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD) were evaluated. There were 91 (80%) men and the mean age was 56 +/- 9 years. The body mass index was near normal (24.4 +/- 3.4), but the waist: hip ratio was high (0.94 +/- 0.06) suggesting central obesity. This was well in accordance of the step II recommendations of the NCEP guidelines as regards their caloric intake and its break-up in terms of carbohydrate, protein and fat (including saturated, mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fatty acids) content. Their daily cholesterol intake (31 +/- 32 mg/day, range 4-180) was very low. The total cholesterol (212 +/- 37 mg%) was marginally elevated, HDL cholesterol (33 +/- 7.5 mg%) was low, LDL cholesterol (148 +/- 39 mg%) was high and the total: HDL ratio (6.8 +/- 2.0) was significantly abnormal. The serum triglyceride level (154 +/- 68 mg%) was on the higher side of normal. These observations give further credence to the recently evolving view that there are different and hitherto unrecognised risk factors of IHD in Indians, who seem to have the highest incidence of IHD amongst all ethnic groups of the world despite consuming a diet low in fat and cholesterol content.