Predicting 10-year cardiovascular risk using WHO/ISH risk prediction chart among urban population in Salem

Background: Coronary vascular disease (CVD) risk estimation tools are a simple means of identifying those at high risk in a community and hence a potentially cost-effective strategy for CVD prevention in resource-poor countries. The WHO /ISH risk prediction charts provide approximate estimates of cardiovascular disease risk in people who do not have established coronary heart disease, stroke or other atherosclerotic disease.Methods: A total of 280 subjects between 40 to 70 years of age were included in this cross sectional study. Eligible households was selected randomly (every 5th household) for the interview using systematic random sampling. Age, gender, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, presence or absence of diabetes and total serum cholesterol were used to compute the total CVD risk using WHO/ISH CVD risk prediction chart. The chart stratify an individual into low (<10%), moderate (10% to <20%), high (20% to <30%), and very high (>30%) risk groups.Results: Moderate and high CVD risk were 12.14% and 7.5% respectively. Of total study participants, 2.5% had very high risk (>40%). High risk (binge drinking) alcohol drinkers (p=0.04) and abdominal obesity (p=0.0001) were significantly associated with higher CVD risk. Higher prevalence of behavioral risk factors was also reported in our study population.Conclusions: A large proportion of the population is at moderate and high cardiovascular risk. Risk stratification and identification of individuals with a high risk for CHD who could potentially benefit from intensive primary prevention efforts are critically important in reducing the burden of CVD in India.