Abstract

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD; coronary artery, cerebro-vascular, and peripheral vascular diseases) are a leading cause of mortality among middle aged and older adults in India,1 with current prevalence estimates of 10–12% in urban and 4–5% in rural adults Objectives: The objective of the present study is to assess the prevalence of important risk factors for CVD among subjects who attended routine outpatient department of our hospital. Methodology: Patients attending the medicine OPD, both the genders were included in the present study. Average reading of the blood pressure was considered for diagnosing hypertension in these individuals. Risk factors such as smoking, tobacco chewing, family history of CVD, history of DM, and hypertension were assessed through interviewed. Hypertension was defined according to the Joint National Committee recommendations as mean systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg and/or mean diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive medications. Body mass index <18.5 kg/m2 was classified as undernutrition, 18.5–24.99 kg/m2 as normal, 25.00–29.99 kg/m2 as overweight, and >30 kg/m2 as obese. For individuals >40 years of age, the 10‑year risk for fatal or nonfatal major cardiovascular events was estimated using the WHO/International Society of Hypertension (ISH) risk prediction charts. These charts estimate CVD risk on the basis of age, gender, systolic blood pressure, smoking status, and presence/absence of DM.

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