risk factors in coronary heart disease

Abstract

We performed a case-control study comparing 40 cases of clinically, electrocardiographically and enzymatically proven myocardial infarction with 16 controls matched for age, sex and Institution. We found association between the myocardial infarction and cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol above 250 mg/dl, triglycerides above 150 mg/dl, uric acid over 8 mg/dill men or 6 mg/dill women, family history of diabetes or coronary heart disease, sedentary Life style, amount of coffee drinking and use of birth-control pills. These factors were synergistic. The high prevalence of smoking in the general population leads to the suggestion that It Is the most important risk factor and that It could explain the greater number of cases of coronary disease, even If the association was not strong. Any public health actions aimed at reducing the frequency of this disease should include smoking reduction.