A local study among children living in a lower-middle class urban community of Karachi indicated a rather high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Though the findings of the study, having been conducted in one selected community of a city, cannot be generalised, there is still ground for being alert on this count.
Some important aspects need prompt attention because CHD-related morbidity and mortality are increasing. A large number of epidemiological studies have revealed that modifiable factors, like physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary habits, obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, are significantly associated with the development of CHD. Prevention against, or modification of, these factors significantly prevent/delay the onset of CHD.
In Pakistan, the prevalence of these factors is substantially high among the adult population. Children also documented a higher prevalence of most of these factors compared to figures reported by the Pakistan Medical Research Council (PMRC).
It is well-established that atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), begins in early childhood and manifests clinically later in life. Pakistan, where about half of the country’s population comprises children and over one-third of people live below the poverty line, cannot afford the emerging costly and crippling diseases, like CHD.
The best option is to take action while we still can both clinically and epidemiologically. This can be done through paying due attention to health promotion and primary prevention. In this regard, more comprehensive research and cost-effective interventions are required.
Interventions related to lifestyle risk factors, if taken earlier in life, might control the epidemic of CHD later in life.
AHTISHAM SHAKOOR
KARACHI
