Lifestyle risk factors and coronary heart disease prevalence in Indian men.

To determine prevalence of various lifestyle coronary risk factors and their association with coronary heart disease (CHD) prevalence we studied 3397 Indian men (1982 rural, 1415 urban). A doctor-administered questionnaire, physical examination and electrocardiography was used. CHD was diagnosed by clinical history and electrocardiographic criteria. Lifestyle risk factor prevalence was: illiteracy 1238 (36%), nuclear family 575 (17%), crowded housing (> or = 3 persons/room) 837 (25%), > or = 4 children 881 (26%), smoking 1554 (46%), alcohol intake 592 (17%), non-vegeterian diet intake 835 (25%), high fat intake 1196 (35%), absence of prayer habit 2276 (67%), absent leisure-time physical activity 2832 (83%) and obesity (body-mass index > or = 27 Kg/M2) 265 (8%). In rural as compared to urban men there was a significantly higher prevalence of illiteracy (39% vs 33%), crowded housing (30% vs 17%), smoking (51% vs 39%), alcohol intake (19% vs 15%) and high fat intake (39% vs 29%) (p < 0.01). In urban as compared to rural men the prevalence of nuclear family (28% vs 9%), > or = 4 children (29% vs 24%), non-vegetarian diet intake (35% vs 17%) and sedentary lifestyle (86% vs 81%) was more. CHD prevalence was seen in 152 (4.5%). The prevalence of CHD was significantly more in urban men (urban 6.0% vs rural 3.4%, p < 0.001). Odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CHD and lifestyle risk factors showed significant positive associations with nuclear family 1.61 (1.15-2.24), > or = 4 children 2.10 (1.51-2.93), crowded housing 1.48 (1.04-2.10), sedentary lifestyle 1.47 (1.00-2.25) and smoking 1.30 (1.00-1.80), and inverse association with high fat intake 0.42 (0.28-0.63), and not with illiteracy 0.99 (0.70-1.39), alcohol intake 0.84 (0.53-1.32), non-vegeterian diet 0.89 (0.61-1.29), absent prayer habit 1.26 (0.88-1.81), or obesity 1.42 (0.83-1.32).