Modifiable Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Disease Severity: Insights From a Case-Control Analysis

Abstract

Atherosclerotic coronary disease stands as a leading cause of both mortality and morbidity globally. The well-documented risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) include abnormal lipid levels, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and diabetes. The established association between these cardiovascular risk factors and ischemic heart disease is widely recognized. However, the correlation between risk factors for ischemic heart disease and the severity of CAD on coronary angiography remains less explored, with varying findings across studies. Our research involved a total of 200 patients aged 30 to 70 years, comprising 100 cases diagnosed with severe CAD and 100 controls with insignificant CAD. Factors contributing to CAD, such as smoking, high sugar levels, high blood pressure, lipid profiles, family history of CAD, and obesity, were assessed in all patients. Statistical analysis, employing the chi-square test, was conducted, and a significant association was considered when the odds ratio value exceeded 1. The mean age in our study population was 51.01 ± 7.76 years, with 159 (79.50%) being male. Among the patients, 99 (49.50%) were obese, 90 (45.0%) were diabetic, 94 (47.0%) were hypertensive, 77 (38.5%) were smokers, 53 (26.5%) had a positive family history, and 17 (8.5%) were dyslipidemic. In evaluating the association of cardiovascular risk factors with CAD severity, smoking (odds ratio 1.73, p-value 0.04), hypertension (odds ratio 1.6, p-value 0.05), diabetes (odds ratio 1.6, p-value 0.05), and obesity (odds ratio 1.98, p-value 0.016) emerged as independent factors significantly linked to the severity of CAD. Our findings underscore the independent roles of smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity as risk factors contributing to the severity of ischemic heart disease.