Which major atherosclerosis risk factors represents the extent of coronary artery disease?

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery diseases are the most prevalent cause of death in Iran. Despite the vast information regarding the risk factors for the incidence and development of such diseases, major risk factors for the extent and severity of atherosclerosis in the patients have not yet been clearly identified. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of severity and extent of coronary artery disease in patients who underwent clinically indicated coronary angiography. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, coronary angiograms of 325 men and 235 women (aged 4-60 years) were analyzed quantitatively. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body weight, height, fasting blood sugar, serum lipids, and smoking habits of patients were then collected in a questionnaire. The relationships between angiographic scores and potential risk factors of coronary artery disease such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and smoking were evaluated using logistic and multiple linear regression analyses. RESULTS: We found significant differences between age and fasting blood glucose in patients with positive and negative coronary angiograms (P < 0.05). Diabetic patients had higher scores compared to non-diabetics in both genders. The same differences were found in obese men. According to regression coefficients, fasting blood sugar in both genders (males = 0.017 and females = 0.016), diastolic blood pressure in males (0.044) and body mass index (BMI) (0.005) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.081) in females were significant predictive factors for severity and extent of coronary artery involvements. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that in patients with positive coronary angiogram, fasting blood sugar in both genders, high diastolic blood pressure in males, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol and BMI in females might be stronger predictors of the extent of coronary artery involvements. Prevention of these risk factors may be effective in controlling the progress of coronary artery diseases.