Objective: In view of the rapid increase in the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in developing countries, our aim was to determine the prevalence of CAD and its risk factors and lifestyle factors in an elderly population from north India.
Methods: A random sample of 595 elderly subjects between 50 to 84 years of age was obtained from the urban population of Moradabad. The response rate was 90.1%. The survey methods included a questionnaire containing information on 7-day food intake, other lifestyle factors, Rose questionnaire for diagnosis of angina pectoris, a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram, blood pressure measurements and blood examination.
Results: The total prevalence of CAD based on clinical history and electrocardiogram was 121/1000 (95% CI 72 to 165). The prevalence rate was slightly higher in males (130/1000) than in females (110/1000). The prevalence of CAD based on the Rose questionnaire was 57/1000 and based on electrocardiogram in 561 asymptomatic subjects was 67/1000. CAD was significantly higher in the elderly (65 to 84 years) group than in the middle-aged (50 to 64 years) group (168 vs. 97 per 1000), respectively. While the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the elderly than middle-aged group respectively (214 vs. 168 per 1000), the prevalence of central obesity was significantly higher in the middle-aged than elderly group (674 vs. 632 per 1000). Other risk factors including smoking were comparable in the two subgroups. Prevalence of major risk factors and central obesity were significantly higher among patients with CAD than in the rest of the subjects. Prevalence of CAD was significantly higher in the middle and higher socio-economic groups compared to the lower income group. These higher income groups were also eating significantly higher amounts of visible fat and had a higher prevalence of physical inactivity (93.3%) compared to the lower income group.
Conclusions: CAD and its risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and central obesity are of sufficient magnitude in the elderly population of India to be a major public health problem. The findings also indicate that CAD is more commonly associated with middle and higher socio-economic status which may be due to greater consumption of dietary fat and more sedentariness compared to lower socioeconomic groups.