CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTOR ESTIMATION IN GUJARATI ASIAN INDIAN POPULATION USING FRAMINGHAM RISK EQUATION

Abstract

 Introduction: Framingham 10 years risk estimation tools are potentially a cost-effective strategy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in developing countries. The current investigation was designed to predict CVD risk in healthy and asymptomatic Gujarati Asian Indians.

Methods: It was observational study of 2483 individuals of Gujarat state having no past or present history of major illness including CVD. The study cohort was stratified into three groups of low-, intermediate- and high risk of CVD according to the Framingham 10 years risk calculator and the contributing factors for higher CVD risk were studied.

Results : Out of 2483 individuals, (65.4%) had low risk of CVD event followed by 21.95% having intermediate and 12.65% showing high risk. The low level of HDL-C (85.03%), hypertension (63.69%) and elevated TC (60.83%) and LDL-C (60.83%) were found to be the main contributors for CVD risk. In high risk males the levels of TC (58.45%) and LDL-C (58.1%) were significantly elevated (p<0.0001), whereas levels of HDL-C (92.25%) markedly low in this subset of population, whereas in females hypertension (100%) and abnormalities of lipids (TC – 83.33%, LDL-C – 86.67%) were the contributors. The CVD risk increased with age in both the genders where maximum risk was found at the population being in the 60-69 years (male – 45.07%; female – 46.67%) of the age.

Conclusion: Higher risk in Gujarati Asian Indian community is mainly attributed by dyslipidemias and hypertension. Both of them being modifiable risk factors, the life style modification is highly advocated in this ethnic group.