Ischemic heart disease in Arab El-Atawla village in Upper Egypt, 1977

ABSTRACT

A total of 192 persons aged 40 years and over in A. El-Attawla village in Upper Egypt were examined to find the prevalence of ischemic heart disease as a confirmation to Abnoub study previously reported. The methodology was reported before [Abd-Allah et al., 1973]. 19.3% of males population were suffering from different grades of dyspnae as compared with 29.4% for females with no significant difference, 61.8% of males were suffering from cough compared with 40.2% for females with significant difference [P 0.01], and 65.2% of males were suffering from expectoration as compared with 34.3% for females [P 0.01]. 41.6% of males and 41.4% of females were suffering from angina. The prevalence of ischemic heart disease was found to be 15.7% in males and 13.6% in females with no significant difference. Latent ischemia was present in 28.1% in males as compared with 42.7% in females with significant difference [P 0.05]. About 43% was the total burden of ischemic males as compared with about 56% for females. Hypertension was reported earlier in females than males by about 5-10 years. About 25% of the sample had dorsalis pedis defects, and about 30% had defects in tibialis post artery and no significant difference could be obtained in the prevalence of these defects between ischemics and the normals. Also, no significant correlation could be obtained between peripheral arterial defects and myocardial ischemia. These results may show a gradient of ischemia depending on the socioeconomic status of the population where ischemia shows its highest level in the lowest socioeconomic classes and correlates inversely. From the age and sex distribution, symptomatology, significant correlation with chronic respiratory infections, severe grades of ischemia in females of matched ages like males, the socio-economic dependancy of ischemia, the absence of differences and correlation between peripheral arteries defects and myocardial ischemia all may suggest that the etiological factors may not be atherosclerosis. It may simulate cases detected in Jamaica study with patent coronary arteries, and still support Abnoub finding and suggestion of the infective origin of these ischemias