Prevalence and Association of Risk Factors in Premature Coronary Artery Disease among Patients of Abbottabad

Abstract

To determine the frequency and analyze the association of various risk factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, diabetes, and stress, with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among patients of Abbottabad. This cross-sectional study was conducted to identify common risk factors associated with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among 246 patients in Abbottabad. Participants were selected through Purposive non-probability sampling from individuals either admitted or attending the outpatient departments (OPD) of District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) and Ayub Teaching Hospital (ATH) between  1st January to 30th June 2024. The sample size of 246 was calculated using the OpenEpi calculator with a 95% confidence interval and 5% absolute precision. Data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire covering demographic details and clinical risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. To assess psychosocial and lifestyle factors, the Perceived Stress Scale and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, and associations between categorical variables were evaluated using the chi-square test. In our study, PCAD males were 125 whereas PCAD females were 119. The frequency of risk factors was cholesterol (33.3%), Family history (56.5%), Hypertension (69.5%), Diabetes (33.3%) and Smoking (32.1%). Hypertension, mental stress, and smoking were the significant risk factors with p-value 0.001,0.001 and 0.000 respectively with a notable gender disparity. The physical inactivity and poor dietary habits also contributed being unconventional risk factors. This study offers significant understanding about the prevalence of risk factors associated with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) among patients in Abbottabad, Pakistan. We identified hypertension, smoking, and stress as significant contributors to PCAD. The findings underscore the necessity for targeted interventions and public health strategies to address these risk factors, especially considering the gender discrepancies observed. Furthermore, the study highlights the often-overlooked roles of stress and physical activity in the development of PCAD, suggesting that comprehensive lifestyle modifications could play a fundamental role in prevention.