Assessment of risk factors for coronary artery disease in military personnel: A study from Iran

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular diseases are the most significant cause of mortality. Although the risk factors of this disease are well known, the strength of these factors varies in different populations and needs to be investigated. AIM: The aim of this study is to estimate the amount of the effect of each classic risk factor on CAD (coronary artery disease) among Aja personnel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This matched case-control study was conducted on 1000 male Aja personnel admitted selecting Aja hospitals in Tehran in 2017. The samples were selected using purposive-graded sampling method. The 250 military patients hospitalized for CAD were considered as a case group. Each case was individually matched for age and service force with tree military patients without CAD. Data were gathered using standard demographic information and history of risk factors questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS 23 and statistical tests. Odds ratio measured trough Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test and used to estimate the amount of the effect of each classic risk factors on CAD. RESULTS: Data analysis indicated that the risk factors including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, hypertension, and positive family history of CAD enhance the probability of CAD as much as 79.2%, 77.3%, 67.7%, 64.1%, and 56.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Diabetes and other modifiable risk factors have the greatest impact on CAD among the concerned Aja personnel. Hence, the authorities can consider the independent amount of the effect of each risk factor and modify them in order to prevent the disease more effectively and purposefully among the personnel.