HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA AS A RISK FACTOR FOR CORONARY HEART DISEASE IN YOUNGER PAKISTANI POPULATION

Background: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Pakistanis suffer from CHD at younger ages. Current preventive guidelines focus mainly on lowering low density lipoproteins and elevating high density lipoproteins. Hypertriglyceridemia is presently reemerging as one of the important isolated risk factor and therapeutic targets for CHD. The aim of this study was to establish an association of hypertriglyceridemia with CHD in younger patients in Pakistan. Material Methods: It was a comparative cross sectional study carried out at Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore from October 2009 to June 2010. This study included 32 patients with CHD of age 21-45 years. They were compared with 32 age and sex matched healthy controls. Fasting levels of triglycerides, high density lipoproteins, total cholesterol, and low density lipoproteins were measured in all the subjects. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0. Results: Statistically significant difference (p=0.002) was observed in the mean concentration of triglycerides between the CHD patients (156.9±69.5 mg/dl) and controls (112.2±37.9 mg/dl). Similarly significant difference in the mean concentration of high density lipoproteins was also observed in the two groups (p=0.003). While levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoproteins were not significantly high in patients as compared to controls. Odds ratio for association of hypertriglyceridemia with CHD was calculated to be 3.8. Conclusion: The present study indicates strong association between increased levels of triglycerides and CHD in younger Pakistani patients