Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Ischemic Heart Disease: A Hospital-Based Study from Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Ischemic heart disease (IHD) remains a major global public health concern. This study aimed to determine the hospital-based prevalence of IHD and identify its associated risk factors among patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 7,087 patients presenting to the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology between September 2023 and February 2024. Of these, 385 patients diagnosed with IHD were included through consecutive sampling. Diagnosis was confirmed via medical records and physician assessment, supported by standard diagnostic criteria, including troponin I testing. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.0. Associations between variables were assessed using the chi-square test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

Results: The hospital-based prevalence of IHD was 5.43% (95% CI: 4.92–5.99). Among affected patients, 63.38% were male and 36.62% were female (p = 0.002). The majority were aged over 45 years (81.30%, p = 0.002) and resided in urban areas (58.96%, p = 0.001). Most patients were married (87.53%; p < 0.001) and belonged to the upper-middle socioeconomic class (47.01%; p = 0.001). A sedentary lifestyle was significantly associated with IHD (41.30%; p = 0.001), while a positive family history (64.41%) was the most prevalent risk factor.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of demographic and lifestyle factors in the risk profile of IHD. Targeted interventions addressing physical inactivity, obesity, and other modifiable risk factors are essential to reduce disease burden, while acknowledging family history as a key non-modifiable determinant.