High prevalence of the cardiovascular risk factors in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. An emerging health care priority

OBJECTIVE: In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cardiovascular mortality is a leading cause of death. Yet, there is a dearth of data on its risk factors.

METHODS: A cross-sectional community based study on established cardiovascular risk factors carried out between February 2004 - February 2005 in Al-Ain City, UAE. Subjects were interviewed, blood pressure, weight, height, fasting blood sugar, and lipid profile measured. Framingham risk scores were used for risk assessment.

RESULTS: Eight hundred seventeen subjects (403 males and 414 females) completed the survey, of these 28.4% had a Framingham risk assessment score of more than 20%, 23.3% had diabetes mellitus, 20.8% hypertension, 37.3% obesity, 22.7% metabolic syndrome, and 19.6% of male smoked. Coronary heart disease was reported in 2.4%. Lipid profiles were abnormal in 64% of the males, and in 53.9% of the females, mostly due to low high-density lipoproteins or high triglycerides levels.

CONCLUSION: The overall cardiovascular risk assessment of the population screened calls for targeted interventions.