We determined the
risk-factor profile and
prevalence of
coronary heart disease in Metroville, a lower middle class urban
community in Karachi, and compared them to the
Pakistan health survey PNHS 1990-94, and the US
health and
nutrition survey 1988-94 NHANES111. Subjects < 18 years and
pregnant women were excluded as were people with extreme ranges BMI [corrected]
heart rate, height and waist. The
prevalence of
hypertension was 23% in
men and
women, hypercholesterolaemia was 17% in
men and 22% in
women [P < 0.001]. Hyperglycaemia was present in 5% of
men and
women and
obesity in 33% of
men and 47% of
women [P < 0.001]. Compared to PNHS, the
prevalences of
obesity,
hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and WHR were higher in our
population. Mean values of BMI [corrected]
cholesterol, WHR were higher in the US
population while mean values were lower for diastolic
blood pressure and
blood glucose