Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease Risk factors in Teachers Residing in Shiraz-Iran 2009

Background: Coronary artery diseases (CAD) are the leading cause of mortality, morbidity and disability with high health care cost in any countries including Iran. The prevalence of all CAD risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, lipid profile abnormalities and obesity is rising in the population of Iran. Knowing the population at risk would lead to proper education to decrease these risk factors and ultimately would reduce CAD. Methods: This descriptive cross- sectional study was conducted in February to December 2009 and comprised a total of 3115 Shiraz educational staff, aged 21- 73 years. Questionnaires were applied to collect information including; demographic data, physical activity, history of CAD, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and smoking. In addition, waist circumference, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), and hip circumference (HC) were measured and serum biochemistry profiles were determined on venous blood samples. Such data helped identify the prevalence of diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, overweight and obesity, central obesity, and smoking. Results: The mean age of 3115 participant was 42.7 and 41.5 years for men and women respectively. The prevalence of pre-diabetes, diabetes hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were %10.2, %4, %18.2, %38.30 and %33.2 respectively. Diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia were more prevalent among males and older subjects. The prevalence of central obesity was %75.05 (IDF criteria) and %40.64 (ATP- III criteria). The frequency of obesity, current smoking, ex-smoking and passive smoking were %12.1, %5.85 , %1.52 ,%7.9 respectively which were below the reported prevalence in Iran in previous studies, but physical inactivity was %73.3 which is very high in this study group. Conclusion: Although CAD risk factors seem to be very common in the study population, clinical and para- clinical data indicated that teachers residing in Shiraz have a lower rate of CAD risk factors in comparison with previous studies done in general population of Iran. This may be related to high level of education, awareness and better lifestyle in the study group. But still further educating in regard to lifestyle modifications as well as dietary surveillance is needed in general population including those dealing with educating children and on a larger scale, the community as a whole.