Lifestyle and the risk of acute myocardial infarction in a Gulf Arab population.

BACKGROUND

Recent statistics indicate that acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is becoming very common in the State of Bahrain. A population-based case-control study was carried out to explore the importance of lifestyle in the occurrence of AMI in Bahrain among those aged 30-79 years.

METHODS

Seventy consecutive cases with a first episode of AMI were identified from a register, which included all hospital admissions, during the period 1 February 1992 to 31 July 1992, and compared with 516 subjects obtained from a random sample of the same community. Multiple logistic regression was used to control for demographic variables as well as for the mutual confounding effects of the investigated risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the patients with first-time AMI, 64% did not walk regularly for exercise compared with 34% of community controls (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-5.15). In all, 12% of community controls has a history of hypertension and 9% had diabetes. The comparative figures for AMI patients were 44% for hypertension (adjusted OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 2.82-9.00) and 22% for diabetes (adjusted OR = 3.28, CI: 1.73-6.20). Cigarette smoking and infrequent consumption of fruits and vegetables also appeared to be associated with an increased risk of AMI.

CONCLUSION

There is scope for lifestyle change in reducing AMI risk, by changes in physical activity, smoking and dietary habits. In addition, measures to control hypertension and diabetes should be given a high priority in any national health policy to prevent AMI.