Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Rural Population of South India

INTRODUCTION: The leading causes of death and disability both in the developed and developing nations is Cardiovascular Disease with its major manifestations are Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and stroke. AIM: To assess the cardiovascular disease risk in adults aged 40-60years and find out the significant predictors associated with cardiovascular risk among the rural adult population. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study was a cross-sectional community based study in the rural field practice area of KIMS, Amalapuram and included a sample of 150 subjects (75 males and 75 females) of age 40-60 years. A Pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from participants about their demographics and health habits. The Framingham Risk Score that consists of age, sex, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, blood pressure, and smoking, to calculate the 10-year risk probability of developing the cardiovascular disease was used to collect the data. Physical examination and blood samples were taken from those participants and Epi-info statistical software package version 3.5.4 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: According to Framingham risk score in our study most of the risk of cardiovascular diseases was more for males. Among low risk group males were 43%, females 86% and in medium risk group males were 17%, females 8% where as in high risk group majority were males (40%) compared to females (6%) and it was found to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The Framingham Risk Score can help identify the risk group for Cardiovascular Disease Risk, and shall help educate the individual as well as community for lifestyle modificatio