Evaluating Cardiovascular Diseases Risk Utilizing WHO/ISH risk Prediction Charts among Urban Population in Mysuru, Karnataka

Background: “Demographic transition” has affected the health-care needs of the world’s population. The epidemiological transition from communicable diseases to Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and Cardiovascular diseases(CVDs) being a leading cause of death calls for prevention of CVDs which will be the essential step to control the epidemic of NCDs. The aim of this study is to estimate the cardiovascular risk among adults aged ≥40 years, utilizing WHO/ISH risk charts.

Method: A community based cross-sectional study conducted among 250 individuals aged ≥40 years residing in urban area ofMysuru, Karnataka. Study participantswere personally interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Information regarding anthropometric measurements and laboratory investigations were also collected. The 10-year risk for cardiovascular events was estimated using the WHO/ISH risk prediction charts.

Results: Among 250 study participants, the mean age was 52.7 (+9.5) years and majority were females (69.6%). 25.6% had very high (≥40%) risk, 18% had 10-<20% risk, 23.2% had 20–<30% risk and 8% had 30–<40% estimated risk of developing fatal and non-fatal CVD event in next 10 years. The prevalence of risk factors like Hypertension, Diabetes, Hypercholesterolemia, Moderate Stress and Physical Inactivity were 49.2%, 28.8%, 24.4%, 45.6% and 8.8% respectively. Over-nutrition was more prevalent where 34.4% and 27.2% had class I obesity and class II obesity respectively.

Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of CVD risk factors and estimated risk of CVD are significantly prevalent in the urban population. Simple tool like WHO/ISH risk prediction charts can be used as a screening tool to estimate the CVD risk occurrence in next 10 years, in a low resource country like India, even at a community level.