Distribution of risk factors in hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease in ICU setting: A prospective observational study

Coronary artery disease (CAD) burden due to socioeconomic changes and acquisition of risk factors is on the rise and is associated with increased healthcare utilization. Presence of different number of risk factors can influence the hospitalization and hence the economic burden of CAD. Thus, this prospective observational study was carried out to determine the distribution of risk factors in the hospitalized patient with CAD in ICU setting. The study was conducted for a period of 10 months from November 2013 to September 2014 at the Durgabai Deshmukh Hospital, Nallakunta, Hyderabad, in the cardiology department after the ethics committee approval and the written informed consent from the patients. Patients >20 years of age (n = 100) with CAD were enrolled into the studies. Descriptive statistics were used. The mean age of the patients was 60.53 years. Two or more risk factors were observed in 92% of the patients associated with CAD (men: 45%; women: 47%). The most prevalent risk factor in men was smoking present in 93.62% of patients followed by a hypertension present in 72.3%. In women, hyperlipidaemia was the most prevalent factor present in 77.3% of women followed by diabetes in 56.6%. Prevention and management of the risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, hyperlipidaemia can reduce the rate of CAD or its severity. The present study demonstrates a high prevalence of CAD risk factors in the Indian patients and thus requires proper management of the risk factors.