ABSTRACT
Background: The proportion of deaths from coronary heart disease varied from 25 to 45% in the Eastern Mediterranean region and has become a major public health threat in the region
Objectives: The use of tobacco among patients with cardiovascular diseases reporting to the departments of Cardiology and Internal Medicine at GMC Hospital Ajman, UAE and the attitude of patients with cardiovascular diseases towards use after diagnosis was assessed
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 300 patients with cardiovascular diseases reporting to the Out-patient and In-Patient of departments of Cardiology and Internal Medicine of GMC Hospital Ajman, UAE. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS-21 version was used to perform statistical analysis. The proportion of tobacco users was estimated. The participants were divided into smokers and non-smokers and the association between smoking habits and sociodemographic variables, and clinical conditions were assessed
Results: Out of 300 participants, 194[64.7%] were between age 30 and 50 years, and 225[75%] were males. The Highest number 146[48.7%] was found to be from the Eastern Mediterranean region. Among the 300 participants, 142[47%] used tobacco. Amongst the 142 tobacco users, 40[28.2%] of them consumed shisha with an average age of initiation being 25 years and the average consumption before and after CVD being once daily. For cigarette smoking, there were 125[88%] participants with an average age of initiation of 20 years, while the average quantity before CVD being fifteen in a day, which decreased to five in a day after CVD. Of the participants, 1[0.7%] was found to use Dokha, starting after CVD at the age of 45, consuming five in a day. The most consumed type of tobacco among males is cigarette as nearly 120 participants smoked. Males accounted for almost 96% of total smokers. On the other hand, the most consumed type of tobacco among females is shisha; nearly 15% of shisha smokers were female, whereas males accounted for 85%. Eight participants were found to have only arrhythmias and 4 [50%] were consumers of tobacco products. Four participants had only angina pectoris and 3 [75%] out of those 4 consumed tobacco. Ninety eight participants had dyslipidemia alone, out of which, 42 [42.9%] were tobacco users. Ninety-five participants had combined disease effect, of those, 50 [52.6%] were found to consume tobacco products. There was a significant association between tobacco use in patients with cardiovascular diseases and gender
Conclusion: The proportion of tobacco use among the participants with cardiovascular disease was 47.3%. Cigarette had the highest consumption rate out of all the other forms of tobacco. There was a significant association between tobacco use in patients with cardiovascular diseases and gender. Smoking was found to be more prevalent among males than females. Among males, cigarette smoking was more common while in females the use of shisha was more common