Distribution of certain risk factors among dyslipidaemic patients, morbid with first episode coronary heart disease.

The objectives of the study were to determine dyslipidaemia prevalence in first episode coronary heart disease cases and to determine the pattern of distribution of risk factors in this temporal relationship. This hospital based retrospective cohort study was conducted at Basaveshwara Teaching Hospital, Gulbarga, during January 2012. Data for the 3 year period (January 2005-December 2007) were collected from the case sheets of cardiac care unit admissions. Out of the 1,373 admissions to the cardiac care unit over the 36 months period, 462 case sheets were examined as these were the ones with first episode coronary heart disease aetiology. Also, lipid profile was available for 102 patients only and hence they were included in the study (n = 102). Only first episode coronary heart disease cases were considered. The labelling of dyslipidaemia was done according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Statistical analysis was done using Fisher-Exact, Chi-square and other appropriate tests. Dyslipidaemia was present in 67.6% of first episode coronary heart disease cases. Age, sex and occupational profiles were enumerated and cross-tabulated to examine their influence on dyslipidaemia. In this study, increasing age profile did not show an association with the propensity towards developing an abnormal lipid profile. Males showed a greater predisposition towards developing dyslipidaemia (70.8%). With respect to occupation, males involved in semi-skilled labour had a higher degree of lipid profile abnormality (87.5%). Dyslipidaemia among working women was higher (75%) when compared to housewives (40%). This association was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.025). History of diabetes, hypertension, alcohol and smoking habits were also considered for the analysis. Heart disease patients with history of diabetes showed a high prevalence of dyslipidaemia (100%), the association being statistically significant (p = 0.008). Lipid profiling among hypertensives showed an aberration, wherein the prevalence of an abnormal profile was lower (54.5%). This association was found to be statistically significant (p=0.05). The influence of alcohol consumption on lipid profile showed an unequivocal association in this study (63.6%), when compared with patients who did not consume alcohol (69.6%). However, an association for dyslipidaemia was forthcoming among smokers (73.7%). This study shows significant association of dyslipidaemia with diabeties, history of alcohol consumption and the working profile of a woman.