Risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in elderly in Ilam Province in 2012

With increasing age، the risk of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease increases. This disease is the main cause of death in 65 years old and older people in both sexes. This study was conducted for determination of prevalence of cardiovascular disease and its related risk factors in elderly.

In a cross-sectional study، using cluster sampling، randomly a sample of 1012 participants with the mean age of 70. 18. 02 from Ilam Province was recruited at 1390. Data was collected using a questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS-16.

In the present study، prevalence of diseases and risk factors were as follow; cardiovascular disease (36. 1%)، hypertension (53%)، sleep disorders (40. 1%)، diabetes (15%) and 15% of them were smokers. Mean body mass index was 25. 724. 48 kg/m2. There was a significance difference between men and women in terms of hospitalization due to heart disease (p=0. 001)، in which frequency of hospitalization due to cardiovascular diseases was 4 folds higher in women than men (OR=4. 38، 95%، CI: 2. 5-7. 66). A similar significant difference was observed between men and women in terms of diagnosed diabetes (p=0. 001). Men had three times more sleep disorders than women (OR=3. 05، 95%، CI: 2. 33-3. 99). ‍

The big concern regarding cardiovascular diseases was that more than one-third of elderly were suffering from cardiovascular diseases and more than half had hypertension. Due to the fact that these diseases are preventable، more attention and consideration is required to manage and prevent its associated risk factors such as diabetes، obesity and smoking. Elderly، Cardiovascular diseases، Risk factor