Prevalence of coronary artery disease and its risk factors in Kerala, South India: a community-based cross-sectional study

Background: There are no recent data on prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Indians. The last community based study from Kerala, the most advanced Indian state in epidemiological transition, was in 1993 that reported 1.4 % definite CAD prevalence. We studied the prevalence of CAD and its risk factors among adults in Kerala. Methods: In a community-based cross sectional study, we selected 5167 adults (mean age 51 years, men 40.1 %) using a multistage cluster sampling method. Information on socio-demographics, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, dietary habits and personal history of hypertension, diabetes, and CAD was collected using a structured interview schedule. Anthropometry, blood pressure, electrocardiogram, and biochemical investigations were done using standard protocols. CAD and its risk factors were defined using standard criteria. Comparisons of age adjusted prevalence were done using two tailed proportion tests. Results: The overall age-adjusted prevalence of definite CAD was 3.5 %: men 4.8 %, women 2.6 % (p 
Source: Epidemiologic Perspectives and Innovations - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Source Type: research