Prevalence and awareness of cardiovascular disease including life styles in a lower middle class urban community in an Asian country

The emerging Cardiovascular Diseases are becoming leading cause of death in the developing countries. The incidence of coronary heart disease in Pakistan is not well established. The aim was to report the prevalence of coronary heart disease in an urban Pakistani Community and to evaluate the awareness of coronary heart disease and to determine life styles of the community. Metroville a suburb of Karachi was selected, it has 4296 household population. After open invitation 398 households agreed to participate in an intervention study. The data obtained at baseline is basis of this report. Subjects >/= 18 years age were 1078 while 382 males and 343 females were > 30 years age. Physical exam height, weight, BMI, ECG, waist circumference, blood pressure were determined. Questionnaire was administered to evaluate life styles and awareness in face to face interviews. Household data showed 1.24 families per household with 3.98 adults and 4.26 children. Uneducated were 27.5% while 26.3% had 10 years as more schooling. Most had job. By history the prevalence of heart attack was 8.2% in women and 4.5% in men, Over all 6.2%, Stroke 2.6, hypertension 26.7% and diabetes 9.5%. Abnormal ECG suggesting myocardial infarction or ishaemia prevalence rate was 4.4 percent, awareness that heart attack was major problem was reported in 40% men and 25% women who strongly agreed while 31% men and 35% agreed that heart attack can not be prevented. Food and its linkage to coronary heart disease showed majority were aware of organ meat, fat and obesity linkage to coronary heart disease. Physical activity was mostly confined to walking stairs at home and shopping trips. Tobacco was used by 34.3% men and 6.2% women. Coronary heart disease prevalence was significant in an urban Karachi community and the prevalence had increased over the past decades. Smoking, obesity were prevalent. The community had sedentary life style

Blood pressure and hypertension distribution in a lower middle class urban community in Pakistan

To determine the awareness level, blood pressure profile and its correlates in Metroville Health Study and to compare the results with those of Pakistan National Health Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of USA. Sample consisted of 400 households of Metroville, included after informed consent. Demographic data was collected and Blood pressure, Cholesterol, Blood Glucose, Height and weight were measured. Obesity was calculated as BMI. The results were compared with those of the Pakistan National Health Survey and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of USA. For both sexes and all age groups, hypertension was more prevalent in MHS than Pakistan National Health Survey [PNHS] and U.S. MHS hypertensives were more likely to be aware of and treated for their condition than hypertensives of PNHS, but less likely than U.S. hypertensives. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] rose with increased age in all three populations. Blood pressure also rose with increased body mass index [BMI] in MHS as well as PNHS and NHANES, with little differences in the degree of rise among them. A one-kg/Height [in m°] increment in BMI was associated with a 0.40-0.67 mmHg increment in systolic pressure in men and a 0.56-0.74 mmHg increment in women. The main difference between USA and two Pakistani surveys was the level of DBP, which was significantly higher in Pakistani Surveys than NHANES, for both men and women. The prevalence of Hypertension in Metroville was high. It showed a quantitative relationship to increasing age and BMI. Hypertension and obesity were the major public health problems in the lower middle class community of Metroville. It is recommended that awareness should be increased and preventive measures implemented