Investigating dietary and non-dietary risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases among the patients attending Madina Teaching Hospital, Faisalabad-Pakistan

Cardiovascular disease is a major problem in Pakistan nowadays and it is important to know its risk factors. Knowledge about risk factors can prevent the patient from myocardial infarction (MI). This study was designed as a cross-sectional study, which included 31 male and 19 female cardiovascular patients (aged, 30-60 years) visiting the Outpatient Department of Madina Teaching Hospital. The results showed that 60% of patients had a family history of heart problems, 56% of patients had been diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus, 72% had problems with blood pressure, and 14% of patients had trouble sleeping. Among the patients, 62% led a sedentary lifestyle, 24% were smokers and 12% were passive smokers. Dietary patterns revealed the nutritional intake of the patients, 40% of patients consumed junk food in their diets, 60% of patients consumed inadequate fruits, and 38% of patients consumed inadequate vegetables. The lipid profiles of the patients revealed that 52% had elevated cholesterol levels, 48% had high LDL levels, and 46% had elevated triglyceride levels. Additionally, stress is a significant factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD), as 60% of the patients reported experiencing regular stress due to economic issues, job-related pressures, and domestic problems. The correlation study indicated that elevated cholesterol levels, which are significantly associated with dietary habits, showed a strong positive correlation with elevated triglyceride levels (r = 0.887, p < 0.01), underscoring the impact of diet on heart health. These findings point toward an increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases with an increase in the risk factors.