A comparison of selected coronary risk factors among Iranian men and women

Abstract

A comparison study was conducted to determine if Iranian men and women who reside in standard metropolitan statistical area of Washington DC were significantly different regarding five selected modifiable risk factors of coronary heart disease. The selected risk factors were total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), diastolic blood pressure, and cigarette smoking. This study also compared the collected data from the subjects of this study with data from the male and female subjects of the Framingham offspring Heart Study to determine whether significant differences existed between the four groups regarding the levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and diastolic blood pressure. This study used a convenient sample of 40 Iranian men and women with equal number of subjects in each group who were between 24 and 44 years of age. The necessary data was collected from medical laboratory reports which subjects mailed to the researcher after completion of their physical exam and through a telephone survey. The medical reports included information on total serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, diastolic blood pressure. Information about smoking status, health history, and demographic background were collected through a telephone survey.

The study tested at the 95% confidence level and determined that Iranian men and women were significantly different on levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL, and measurements of diastolic blood pressure. Iranian men showed a higher measure of total cholesterol, LDL, and diastolic blood pressure and lower measure of HDL than Iranian women.

The study tested at the 99% confidence level and determined that Iranian men were significantly different from American male subjects of the Framingham offspring Heart Study regarding HDL level. Iranian males had lower levels of HDL than American males. The Iranian females were significantly different from the American female subjects of the Framingham Heart Study on the levels of total serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and diastolic blood pressure measurements. Iranian females had lower levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and diastolic blood pressure measurements than the Framingham female subjects.