Abstract:
Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death and are projected to
remain so. An estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005,
representing 30 % of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 7.6 million were due to heart attacks
and 5.7 million due to stroke. About 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middleincome
countries. If current trends are allowed to continue, by the year 2015, an estimated
20 million people will die from cardiovascular disease (mainly from heart attacks and
strokes). Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an abnormal function of the heart or blood
vessels. It can cause an increase in risk for heart attack, heart failure, sudden death, stroke
and cardiac rhythm problems, thus resulting in decreased quality of life and decreased life
expectancy. The causes of cardiovascular disease range from structural defects, to
infection, inflammation, environmental and genetical. Cardiovascular diseases include
coronary heart disease (heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease, raised blood pressure
(hypertension), peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease
and heart failure. We studied total 290 cases whose serum were collected from different
areas of Bangladesh and these are coastal area, urban area and hilly area and each group
has same age level controls. Values in controls vs. patients were found to be: Age (year,
Mean±SD) 52.94 ± 8.93 vs. 58.12 ± 9.31, Sex (F/M) 42/48 vs. 66/134, respectively. It is
reported, that CVD risk varies with geographical inhabitants, ethnic lifestyle and cultural
history and typical food habits. In this study we examined various risk factors and
cardiovascular markers among the urban, hilly and coastal populations. From our study we
found the following average cholesterol level in urban, hilly and coastal area’s populations
respectively: (mean ± sd) 170.62 ± 41.92 mg/dL, 158.14 ± 37.75 mg/dL and 168.96 ± 40.5
mg/dL, where the hilly population showed a significant lower cholesterol level then the
other two groups. The average HDL level of hilly, urban and coastal populations were as
follows respectively: (mean ± sd) 36.69 ± 5.08 mg/dL, 37.85 ± 8.56 mg/dL and 42.37 ±
8.53 mg/dL and interestingly HDL known as good cholesterol was clearly higher in coastal
groups populations than the other two groups. Hilly populations had average LDL level
(mean ± sd) 117.02 ± 23.08 mg/dL, urban patients had 123.19 ± 22.18 mg/dL and coastal
area’s people had average LDL concentration is 120.58 ± 25.97 mg/dL. Serum electrolytes, and AST and CKMB variation in cardiac patients in these geographic regions is also
reported.
Additionally, a positive correlation between age and total cholesterol and LDL and a
negative correlation between age and serum Cl was shown. This study is a preliminary
investigation to get a relationship between heart diseases and geographical stratifications
in Bangladesh.