ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL CARDIOVASCULAR RISK USING WHO/ISH RISK PREDICTION CHART AMONG ADULTS IN RURAL AREAS OF MYSURU: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in rural India, where preventive healthcare infrastructure remains underdeveloped. Myocardial infarction and stroke are among the deadly events that are caused by a combination of risk factors that are present in the majority of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aimed to estimate the 10-year CVD risk among adults in rural Mysuru using the WHO/ISH risk prediction charts, a practical tool designed for low-resource settings. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted over three months (January 2025- March 2025), involving 172 study participants from the rural field practice area affiliated with the Department of Community Medicine at JSS Medical College, Mysuru. A convenient sampling method was used to select the study participants. Data were collected through a house-to-house visit using the semi-structured questionnaire and the WHO/ISH risk prediction chart (non-laboratory based) for the South East region to assess the participants' CVD risk. Results: The mean age of the 172 study participants was 59.24 + 5.52 years. The proportion of male participants and female participants was 114 (66%) and 58 (34%), respectively. Based on WHO/ISH charts, moderate cardiovascular risk increased with age, particularly among those over 60 years, 17 (35.4%), although the trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.617). Gender and smoking status showed no significant association with high-risk categories, though females 3 (5.2%) and non-smokers 1(9.1%) had slightly higher high-risk proportions compared to males 2 (1.8%) and smokers 4 (2.5%). Conclusion: The study highlights the utility of the WHO/ISH risk prediction charts in identifying cardiovascular risk, early screening and targeted interventions focusing on these modifiable risk factors are essential to reduce the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in rural populations. Keywords: Cardiovascular risk, WHO/ISH Risk Chart, Rural population, Hypertension