Prevalence and pattern of lipid disorders in Saudi patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and patterns of dyslipidemia in Saudi patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, hospital-based study, which was conducted on all Saudi patients who underwent coronary angiography under the author's personal care and were found to have > 50% coronary stenosis. Fasting lipid profile was measured in all patients during the admission for the coronary angiography. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-five patients were included in the study. The mean age (±Standard deviation) was 55.1 ± 11, ranging from 17 to 86 years. The majority of patients were males: 229 (77.6%). Mean total cholesterol was 175.6 ± 47.6 mg/dl, mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was 111.3 ± 40.3 mg/dl, mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was 38.27 ± 9.5 mg/dl and mean triglyceride level was 141.8 ± 74.8 mg/dl. 21 (7.1%) patients had normal coronary arteries, 107 (36.3%) had one vessel disease, 78 (26.4%) had two vessel disease and 89 (30.2%) had three vessel disease. There was a significant correlation between the extent of CAD and age (P = 0.003), sex (P = 0.0002), total cholesterol (P = 0.02) and low HDL-C (P < 0.001. 21 (7.1%) patients were asymptomatic, 110 (37.3%) had stable angina, 127 (43.1%) had none ST elevation acute coronary syndrome, 20 (6.8%) had ST elevation myocardial infarction and 17 (5.7%) had heart failure. There was also a significant correlation between age (P = 0.03), sex (P < 0.001), LDL-C (P = 0.005) and low HDL-C (P < 0.001) and the severity of CAD. CONCLUSION: Dyslipidemia is a very prevalent risk factor in Saudi patients with CAD. Low HDL-C was the most frequent lipid abnormality, which significantly impacts on the extent of the CAD.