[Distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in coronary patients in Sahel, Tunisia]

We evaluated cardiovascular risk factors and their association in patients in Sahel, hospitalized for coronary disease over the period 1994-1998. The clinical features of 3455 patients (72.4% men, 1741 with myocardial infarction, 1714 with unstable angina) were analysed on hospital admission. The prevalence of smoking, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes and obesity was 77.4%, 39.4%, 28.5%, 42.5% and 25.1% respectively in men and 2.9%, 43.7%, 59.2%, 56.6% and 31.9% respectively in women. With this risk factor profile a national strategy of primary prevention and heart health promotion is needed in Tunisia.