Cardiovascular risk factors in a small urban community in central Croatia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) poses a significant health burden globally.
• Identifying prevalent risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.
• Age and sex-specific risk factor profiles for CHD require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key risk factors for coronary heart disease in men and women in Karlovac, Croatia.
• To analyze these risk factors based on age groups: younger (<= 59) and older (>= 60).
• To compare the prevalence of risk factors between coronary patients and a control group.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 558 non-coronary patients (control group) and 442 symptomatic coronary patients.
• Statistical analysis was performed to determine significant differences in risk factor prevalence.

Main Results:

• Younger male CHD patients (< 59) showed significantly higher rates of hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and diabetes compared to controls.
• Older male patients (>= 60) did not exhibit statistically significant differences in any single risk factor.
• Younger female CHD patients (< 59) had significantly higher rates of hypercholesterolemia and diabetes.
• Older female CHD patients (>= 60) showed a significant prevalence of diabetes.

Conclusions:

• This study highlights a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in younger coronary patients.
• Diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking were the most frequent risk factors identified.
• Diabetes emerged as a particularly important risk factor for older women with coronary heart disease.