Survey on Prevalence of Cardiac Disease and its Risk Factors in Adults in Turkey: 2. Results Obtained in İstanbul

In a newly conducted survey in Turkey, in which a random sample population of 3689 persons 20 years of age or older were screened for heart disease and its risk factors, the results obtained in the İstanbul province (477 persons surveyed) are herein described. Mean plasma concentration of total cholesterol was relatively low in the general adult population (179.9 mg/dl); 9.5 % of them exhibited values of 240 mg/dl or over. Fifty-seven percent of men and 35 % of women were regular smokers. Hypertension (as defined by blood pressure of = 160 mmHg and or = 95 mmHg or one under control by treatment) existed in 11.8 % of males and 17.3 % of females. While obesity was encountered in only 5.4 % of men, its prevalence in women was as high as 23.6%. Known diabetics, participants revealing a fasting blood glucose of = 130 mg/dl or a postprandial value (at 1.5 - 2.5 hours) of over 170 mg/dl comprised 19 persons, indicating a diabetes prevalence of 4 %. Multiple major risk factors were observed in 5.9 % of the population. The prevalence of cardiac disease in the adult population was 6.1 % (95 % confidence limits, 4 and 8.2), women having a slightly higher (p>0.05) incidence. Coronary heart disease led with a prevalence of 4.8 %, while hypertensive heart disease was noted in 0.6 %, congenital and rheumatic heart diseases in 0.6 percent.