A Cross-sectional Study of the Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease Traditional Risk Factors in Yazd urban population, Yazd Healthy Heart Project

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors are increasingin developing counties. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of CADrisk factors in Iran but Geographical prevalence is not uniform. The presentstudy was performed to determine the prevalence of CAD risk factors among Yazdurban population. Method: This cross- sectional study performed in 2004, comprised atotal 2000 Yazd citizens (1000 males), and the corresponding data were recordedin questionnaires carrying 500 items.Results: About 85% of Yazd citizens had at least one and 61.1% had atleast two coronary artery diseases. The following data in brackets refer to themales and females respectively. The present study showed obesity in 16.38% ofYazd citizens (9.2 and 24.2%). The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia 12.1%(10.6 and 13.8%), dyslipidemia 58.5% (59% and 57.6%), high blood pressure 25.6%(27.5% and 23.5%), diabetes mellitus 11% (10.48% and 11.5%), impaired glucosetolerance test 8.5% (7.9% and 9.1%) and cigarette smoking 13.12% (24.45% and0.5%). Also 43.3% of men and 62.05% of women had excess weight. The prevalenceof hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertention(HTN), and abdominal obesity increased significantly with age (P< 0.005). Theprevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM weresignificantly higher in women. Conclusion: Yazd did not carry the highest levels of risk factors inIran, but the present study showed excess weight, dislipidemia and HTN were themost prevalent risk factors found in this region. Thus it is recommended toconsider the preventive and therapeutic measures as the major hygienicpriorities in this area.