Cardiovascular disease assessment for patients between 20–39 years

CVD are the most common cause of death in Latvia and worldwide and are more common in the elderly population. The general practitioner consults also young patients with an anamnesis of cardiovascular diseases before the age of forty, with complains of arterial hypertension or isolated risk factor of cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular risk assessment for young patients is done with the relative risk assessment. However, it is not a routine method for patients between 20 - 39 years. The objective was to assess the relative cardiovascular risk for patients between 20 – 39 years. In a cross-sectional study  70 patients with no cardiovascular disease anamnesis between the age of 20-39 were included. Physical parameters, BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and glucose were measured. Anamnesis of illnesses and family history of CVD was analysed. Based on the parameters CVD SCORE relative risk assessment was done. A statistical analysis of the results was performed. The mean age was 32,2 years (min. 20, max. 39, median 32,5), 38 female and 32 males. The results of the study showed that the relative risk is elevated for 62 (88,6%) patients. BMI was evaluated for 57% (n=42) patients. Around one third of patients had elevated blood pressure (22,9%) and total cholesterol level (31,4%). The relative CVD risk correlate with patient’s age p=0.014. Total cholesterol has a direct correlation with patient’s age (p=0.002). Also, these factors correlate with patients age (blood pressure p=0.018 and total cholesterol p=0.01), there was no statistical difference between patients’ sex, smokers, family history of CVD. The risk is assessable in this patient group. This helps to identify the high-risk patients and make early prophylactic measures for the risk management. With increased age the relative CVD risk increases which is determined by elevated total cholesterol and blood pressure level.