Socioeconomic disparities and smoking habits in metabolic syndrome: evidence from isfahan healthy heart program.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (Mets) consists of major clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. This study determines the association of socioeconomic determinants and smoking behavior in a population-based sample of Iranians with Mets. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey comprised 12600 randomly selected men and women aged ≥ 19 years living in three counties in central part of Iran. They participated in the baseline survey of a community-based program for CVD prevention entitled" Isfahan Healthy Heart Program" in 2000-2001. Subjects with Mets were selected based on NCEP- ATPIII criteria. Demographic data, medical history, lifestyle, smoking habits, physical examination, blood pressure, obesity indices and serum lipids were determined. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects with Mets was significantly higher. The mean age of smokers in both groups was higher than non-smokers but with lower WC and WHR. Marital status, age and residency were not significantly different in smokers with Mets and non-smokers with Mets. Smoking was more common in the middle educational group in the income category of Quartile 1-3. Mets was significantly related to age, sex and education. Middle-aged and elderly smokers were at approximately 4-5 times higher risk among Mets subjects. Low education decreased the risk of Mets by 0.48; similarly in non-smokers, 6-12 years of education decreased the risk of Mets by 0.72. CONCLUSION: More educated persons had a better awareness and behavior related to their health and role of smoking. In the lower social strata of the Iranian population, more efforts are needed against smoking habits.

Effect of cardiac rehabilitation on lipid profile.

BACKGROUND: Hyperlipidemia plays a strong role in coronary heart disease and is the second major risk factor in Isfahan, Iran. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on serum lipids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The group of 120 patients. Suffering from myocardial infarction or undergone surgery divided into two groups of 60 each. Sixty patients participated in cardiac rehabilitation programme with 24 exercise sessions (45-60 min/session) with dietary and psychiatric consultation. Other group of 60 acted as control. The 14 hours footing blood samples were analysed pre-intervention and eight weeks post-intervension for total cholesterol (T.chol) triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C). RESULTS: T.chol, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C was normal in 21 (35%), 18 (30%), 41 (68%) and 40 (66%) respectively after eight weeks in intervension group. T.chol, TG and LDL-C was decreased in 42 (70%), 36 (62%) and 46 (76%) of patient respectively in intervension group HDL-C showed increase in 52 (86%) patients. A 20 mg, 56 and 30 mg/dl reduction in T.chol, TG and LDL-C was noted after eight weeks intervention respectively. There was 0.8 reduction in LDL-C/HDL-C (P < 0.05) and 5 mg/dl increase in serum HDL-C (P < 0.05) of intervention group vs. control group. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in T.chol, TG and LDL-C and increase in HDL-C in all patients and normalization of lipid profile in most of them shows the importance of rehabilitation in cardiac patients and the need for its continuity.