A Descriptive Study to Assess the Risk Profile, Clinical Presentation and Treatment Seeking Behavior of Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) at Selected Hospital, Coimbatore

Coronary artery disease is a very common, often “silent killer” of hundreds of thousands of people per year. It is a disease that affects the coronary arteries, which run along the outside of the heart. The function of these vessels is to provide rich of oxygen, nutrients and remove carbon dioxide. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death worldwide. The most common form of heart disease is caused by arteriosclerosis, generally known as coronary heart disease, hardening and/or thickening of the arteries.

1. Assess the risk profile of patients with CAD.2. Assess the clinical presentation of patients with CAD. 3. Assess treatment seeking behavior of patients with CAD. 4. Assess gender difference in risk profile & clinical presentation of patients with CAD.

Descriptive research design was conducted in Cardiac ward, coronary care unit, & cardiology outpatient department at selected hospital, Coimbatore. The sample size was 150.

Non-probability convenient sampling technique was used for the study. The data were analyzed by using descriptive, inferential statistical methods.

Majority of patients have risk factor likes increased waist circumference (70%), non-vegetarian diet habits (68.7%), sedentary work (66.7%) and increased BMI (64%) in both men and women. Majority (15.3%) of patients experienced the quality of pain as pressure. 44% of patients experienced pain at the center of chest. Pain radiation to left shoulder was present among 14% of patients. Pain was persisted for more than 30 minutes in 33.3% of patients. Ingestion of heavy food was a common precipitating factor among 10% of patients. Majority of patients (74.7%) got relieved from pain by administration of nitrate drugs. 20% of patients had diaphoresis as an associated symptom. Chest pain was the important complaints to seek medical advice. 135 patients were on regular treatment. Out of 150 patients, 46.7% of patients had an event of MI. 40% of patients arrived to hospital within 1 to 3hrs of onset of symptoms. Chi square value showed that there is an association between gender and waist circumference, diet, job. 26% of male patients experienced the quality of pain as pressure. Heaviness in the chest was present among 37% of female patients. 44.4% of male patients had pain from 15 to 30 minutes. Pain was persisted for more than 30 minutes in 53.3% of female patients. Chi square value showed that there is an association between gender and duration of pain, associated symptoms.

CAD is the leading cause of death in the world. Everyone should have awareness to prevent the occurrence of CAD.