cross-sectional study of the prevalence of coronary artery disease traditional risk factors in Yazd urban population, Yazd healthy heart project

Coronary artery disease [CAD] risk factors are increasing in developing countries. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of CAD risk factors in Iran but Geographical prevalence is not uniform. The present study was performed to determine the prevalence of CAD risk factors among Yazd urban population. This cross- sectional study performed in 2004, comprised a total 2000 Yazd citizens [1000 males], and the corresponding data were recorded in questionnaires carrying 500 items. About 85% of Yazd citizens had at least one and 61.1% had at least two coronary artery risk factors. The following data in brackets refer to the males and females respectively. The present study showed obesity in 16.38% of Yazd 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 glucose tolerance test 8.5% [7.9% and 9.1%] and cigarette smoking 13.12% [24.45% and 0.5%]. Also 43.3% of men and 62.05% of women had excess weight. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus [DM], hypertention [HTN], and abdominal obesity increased significantly with age [P< 0.005]. The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM were significantly higher in women. Yazd did not carry the highest levels of risk factors in Iran, but the present study showed excess weight, dyslipidemia and HTN were the most prevalent risk factors found in this region. Thus it is recommended to consider the preventive and therapeutic measures as the major health priorities in this area

Prevalence of traditional coronary artery disease risk factors in Yazd urban population: Yazd healthy heart project

Coronary artery disease [CAD] risk factors are increasing in developing countries. Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of CAD risk factors in Iran but geographical prevalence is not uniform. We performed this study to determine the prevalence of these risk factors in Yazd province, central Iran. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2000 participants, 1000 men and 1000 women among Yazd citizens, were surveyed and data was recorded in a 500- item questionnaire. About 85% of Yazd citizens had at least one and 61.1% had at least two coronary artery disease risk factors. The present study showed that 16.38% of Yazd citizens were obese [9.2% in men and 24.2% in women], and 43.3% of men an d62.05% of women had excess weight. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 12.1% [10.6 in men and 13.8% in women, respectively], dyslipidemia 58.5% [59% and 57.6%, respectively], high blood pressure [HTN] 25.6% [27.5% and 23.5%, respectively], diabetes mellitus [DM] 11% [10.48% and 11.5%, respectively], impaired glucose tolerance 8.5% [7.9 and 9.1%, respectively] and cigarette smoking 13.12% [24.45% and 0.55, respectively]. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, dyslipidemia, DM, HTN, and abdominal obesity increased significantly with age [p<0.005]. The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, hypercholesterolemia and DM was significantly higher in women. Excess weight, dyslipidemia and HTN were the most prevalent risk factors in Yazd. Although Yazd did not have the highest levels of risk factors in Iran, but the findings showed that Yazd is one of the "at risk" cities with regard to prevalence of risk factors. Preventive and therapeutic programs should thus be considered as a major health priority in Yazd

Serum uric acid levels and its association with cardiovascular risk factors

Although the issue of hyperuricemia as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases [CVD] has been disputed, several studies have shown an association between hyperuricemia and several CVD risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess distribution of uric acid level in Yazd City, center of Iran, and its association with CVD risk factors. From autumn 2004 to summer 2005, 2000 urban population of Yazd City, aging 20-74 years via clustering random sampling were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Serum uric acid level, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP] and waist/hip ratio were significantly higher in men than in women [P < 0.001],moreover, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and body mass index [BMI] were significantly higher in women [P < 0.001]. The prevalence of hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in men and women was [17.9%, 11.25% P = 0.001] and [11.87%, 19.32% P= 0.01], respectively. Hyperuricemia was more prevalent in metabolic syndrome and ischemic heart disease independent of age and sex. Significant correlations were found between serum uric acid and several components of the metabolic syndrome. Weight, waist circumstance, triglyceride level and DBP, were the major determinants of the variations in serum uric acid levels. This could be attributed to the insulin resistance status

Diabetes mellitus and bell's palsy in Iranian population

During last decades many researchers have focused on the conditions associated with Bell's palsy including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and viral infections. This study was performed to evaluate correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy and some relevant features not discussed in the literature in an Iranian population. The presence of diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a total number of 275 subjects [75 patients with Bell's palsy and 200 control subjects]. Diabetes mellitus was noted in 10 [13.3%] patients with Bell's palsy among which 6 case were diagnosed as new cases of diabetes. Previous history of Bell's palsy was present in 10.67% of the subjects with Bell's palsy. This study confirms the correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy for the first time in an Iranian population. We suggest screening tests for diabetes mellitus to be a routine part in the management of patients with Bell's palsy, especially in developing countries

[Ankle / brachial index in thrombotic cerebrovascular disease patients]

Previous studies showed that Ankle Brachial Index [ABI] score less than 0.9 increases probability of ischemic heart disease up to 2 times, risk of TIA/ stroke to quadruple, and asymptomatic carotid and popliteal artery stenosis to one and half fold. ABI <0.9 is related with diffuse atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to review ABI findings in patients with cerebral artery disease. This cross-sectional descriptive study was done on 98 patients with thrombotic cerebrovascular accident in Yazd Shahid Sadughi Hospital, between February 2001 and February 2002. A questionnaire including demographic, clinical, and paraclinical data was completed and results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency distribution tables. Forty four percent of the patients were men. Mean age was 73/1 +/- 1/5. ABI<0.9 was seen in 15% of the cases. In patients older than 65 years old ABI<0.9 frequency rate was 12.5% and in patients younger that 65 year old it was 3.1%. There was no significant difference between ABI<0.9 and history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, and ischemic heart disease. ABI<0.9 was prominently seen in patients with hyperlipidemia [P<0.05]. ABI<0.9 was seen in older ages, hypertensive, smoker, and CAD patients more than the others [P>0.07]. Because of lack of samples in the present study, authors suggest a study with a larger sample group

[Clinical and paraclinical characteristics of hospitalized pa talents with congestive heart failure in Yazd [a survey of 258 patients]]

The Clinical and Paraclinical Characteristics of patients with congestive heart failure [CUF] have been described by a number of previous studies, but very little information is available on this issue in Iran. This study aimed to delineate the clinical and paraclinical characteristics of Iranian patients hospitalized with CHF. During an observational, analytical, descriptive, cross-sectional study, 258 consecutive patients were interviewed and examined at S hospitals in Yazd, Iran from January to December 1999.Questionnaire comprised of information regarding etiology, signs, symptoms, paraclinical data, etc. Results were analyzed by SPSS9.01 and EP16 programs using ANOVA, Chi-Square and f-TEST and reported as Mean +/- SD. The study population had a high mean age [67.59 +/- 0.73], 0.8% were less than 35 years old and 70.80% were older than 65 years. Mortality rate due to heart failure was 7.5%. Major causes of CHF were ischemia [65.1%]. valvular lesions [5.8%], cardiomyopathy [5%] and hypertensive heart diseases [4.6%]. Mean number of hospitalizations per year was 2.2 +/- 0.1, while mean hospitalization time was 7.25 +/- 3.8 days and mean cost was 1122439 +/- 89874.8 rials. Even though many background and aggravating factors of heart failure are preventable, this disease incurs a lot of expenditure on our country's health system. Therefore, there is a requirement for programming and research in the fields of education, treatment and prevention of this disease for all members of the community

Effect of glucose - insulin - potassium [GIK] solution on short term prognosis of unstable angina

Unstable angina as a clinical condition includes a major group of patients manifested with acute coronary syndrome. Misdiagnosis of this clinical syndrome causes myocardial infarction [MI] and death. Conventional and advanced forms of treatment are used with the aim of rapid stabilization of unstable angina. Although infusion of glucose - insulin - potassium [GIK] solution has had good results in acute MI, no major trial has studied its effect in unstable angina. The main goal of this study was evaluation of the effectiveness of GIK solution on prognosis of hospitalized unstable angina patients. This randomized clinical trial included patients with class II and III unstable angina [two groups of 94 patients, each] with a mean age of 62.47 +/- 13.20 years and Female /Male ratio of 1.35 admitted in the CCU's of Yazd from September 2003 to May 2004. There was no significant difference between the study and control groups regarding mean age, sex ratio and unstable angina class [P = 0.15, P = 0.77 and P = 0.76]. The study group had significant reduction in recurrent chest pain and duration of hospitalization [P = 0.001 and P = 0.02]. The most common adverse effect ofGIK solution was pain at infusion site. Use of GIK solution causes early stabilization of unstable angina patients without any significant or life threatening adverse effect

[Relation between admission blood glucose levels and in-hospital and one year mortality in non-diabetic acute myocardial infarction patients]

Several studies have evaluated the association of admission blood glucose levels and short and long term mortality after myocardial infarction and have had different results. The aim of this study was evaluation of association between admission blood glucose levels and in-hospital and one year mortality in non-diabetic patients with AMI. In this study, demographic, clinical and Para clinical data of 120 non-diabetic patients with AMI on admission was collected and analyzed. The patients were followed for one year. Blood glucose level >/= 140 mg/dl was defined as hyperglycemia. 78% of patients were men. The mean age and admission blood glucose level was 63 +/- 13 years and 146 +/- 76mg/dl, respectively. Death due to cardio vascular causes was seen in 20% of patients in hospital and 9.8% during the one year follow up. The mean admission blood glucose level in patients who died in hospital was significantly more than live patients and also had an influence on the in-hospital outcome. Every 100mg/dl increase in blood glucose level was associated with 11% increase in in-hospital mortality risk in non-diabetic patients. Our results demonstrate that admission blood glucose level is a good marker for diagnosing patients with worse prognosis after AMI. We suggest that later studies should focus on optimal control of hyperglycemia with insulin in patients with AMI