Hossein Fakhrzadeh, Iraj Nabepoor, Mohammad Rayani, Ali-Reza Vassigh,
Volume 2, Issue 1 (5-2003)
Abstract
Background: We estimated the prevalence of angina pectoris (AP) and myocardial infarction (MI) in the hyperlipidaemic population of Bushehr using the ROSE questionnaire and ECG changes using the Minnesota code.
Methods: 1036 residents of Bushehr (in southern Iran), aged 30-64 years, were enrolled as part of a 2-year cross-sectional prevalence study of diabetes mellitus and other risk factors for coronary heart disease. All participants completed a ROSE questionnaire and underwent 12-lead electrocardiography. ECG strips were interpreted according to the Minnesota code. The criteria for diagnosing AP was grade 1 or 2 on the angina pectoris diagnostic scale, and for MI, code 1.1 of the Minnesota code or a history of myocardial infarction. Results: The crude prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was 47.6%, and its age-adjusted prevalence 50.3% in women and 43.9% in men. Mean serum cholesterol was 204.2±49.5mg/dl in women and 195.0±46.1 in men (p=0.003). The prevalence of AP was 4.9%, which, after adjustment for age, came to 5.6% in men and 4.6% in women. The prevalence of AP was 6.3% in subjects with high cholesterol and 3.6% in subjects with normal cholesterol levels (p<0.05). There was a strong association between AP and hypercholesterolaemia in men (p<0.0005). The crude prevalence of MI was 4.1% in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia and 0.9% in subjects with normal cholesterol (p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, MI was correlated with hypercholesterolaemia in both sexes (p<0.05). Similarly, MI in both men and women was associated with diabetes, and in men alone with hypertension (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is imperative to reduce the average cholesterol level of the population of Bushehr in order to decrease the incidence of AP and, ultimately, MI. Interventions to improve people s lifestyle are of one of the effective measures that may be used in this regard.
