FREQUENCY OF RISK FACTORS FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS IN AL-RABWAH PHC CENTER IN RIYADH

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus associated with high prevalence and incidence of CHD is a common problem in Saudi Arabia. OBJECTIVES: To assess the percentage of major modifiable risk factors for CHD among diabetic patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted on 495 diabetic patients (292 males and 203 females) attending the Miniclinic at Al-Rabwah PHC center in Riyadh. Their records for the months of April and May 2001 were reviewed. Data collected from the patient's files included body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and smoking status. In addition, information on the duration of diabetes was obtained and fasting blood sugar was done. RESULTS: The percentage of overweight males was 43.2% as against 22% females, the figure for males being highly significant (p<0.0001). Obesity which was 27.9% in males and 64.1% in females, was highly significant in females (p<0.0001). For cholesterol (≥ 5.2 mmol/l) was 49.5% in males versus 68.5% in females (p=0.0036). High triglyceride (≥ 1.7%) was 50% in both genders. 13.4% of males were hypertensive as against 44.3% female hypertensives which was highly significant in females (p<0.0001). 19.5% of the males smoked. There was no significant difference between risk factors for CHD and duration of diabetes except that there were more smokers among those who had had diabetes for less than 10 years. Most of the diabetics with poor glycemic control (FBS> 8.3mmol/l) tended to be smokers, were more obese, had high triglyceride and high total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that diabetic patients have high percentage of risk factors for CHD and more females than males are at risk. Therefore, early intervention is required if the incidence of CHD among diabetic patients is to be reduced.