Exploring Trends and Burden of Coronary Artery Disease and its Risk Factors: A Case Control Study

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has emerged as the foremost non-communicable health challenge globally, accounting for the majority of deaths. This rising prevalence is driven by lifestyle transitions, demographic shifts, and under-recognized risk factors. Despite this growing concern, population-based evidence on CVD prevalence and its determinants remains limited. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CVD and investigate the contribution of major risk factors in the development of coronary artery disease. Methods: This case-control study was carried out among 216 adults aged above 30 years. Participants were recruited using consecutive sampling methods. Information on demographics, smoking, physical activity, diet, family history, and medical conditions was obtained through medical records. Patients with developed coronary artery disease (cases) and the participants who have not developed the disease (controls). Prevalence was expressed as percentages with 95% confidence intervals. Chi-square tests assessed group differences, while binary logistic regression identified independent predictors of CVD. Results: Study participants were evenly distributed into cases and controls. The distribution of CVD was higher in males (69.4%) compared to females (39.6%) and rose sharply with increasing age (24.5% in > 50 years versus 10.6% in <40 years, p < 0.05). In regression analysis, hypertension (OR = 1.356), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.706), dyslipidemia (OR = 2.733), obesity (OR = 1.00), and smoking (OR = 1.606) were independently associated with CVD, after adjusting for age and sex. Conclusion: This study reveals that the most important independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in the studied population is dyslipidemia, found in cases in comparison to controls. Furthermore, the prevalence of CAD in older persons points to the necessity of focused screening initiatives in these demographics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.59564/amrj/03.04/009