Coronary heart disease risk-factor profile in a lower middles class urban community in Pakistan

We determined the risk-factor profile and prevalence of coronary heart disease in Metroville, a lower middle class urban community in Karachi, and compared them to the Pakistan health survey PNHS 1990–94, and the US health and nutrition survey 1988–94 NHANES111. Subjects 18 years and pregnant women were excluded as were people with extreme ranges SMI, heart rate, height and waist. The prevalence of hypertension was 23% in men and women, hypercholesterolaemia was 17% in men and 22% in women (P 0.001). Hyperglycaemia was present in 5% of men and women and obesity in 33% of men and 47% of women (P 0.001). Compared to PNHS, the prevalences of obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and WHR were higher in our population. Mean values of RMI, cholesterol, WHR were higher in the US population while mean values were lower for diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose.