Angiographically documented coronary artery disease in asymptomatic middle aged men suspected of silent ischaemic heart disease
Bashir, R.; Khan, A.; Yousaf, M.
Jpma. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 46(10): 225-228
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9982 PMID: 8961707 Document Number: 458826
One hundred and fourteen asymptomatic middle aged men, with a positive stress test, underwent coronary angiography at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology/National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC/NIHD), Rawalpindi. Of these, 66 (58%) were found to have significant disease (> 50% luminal narrowing in at least one of the major epicardial arteries) while 48 (42%) had normal coronary arteries. Of the former, 27 (41%) had 1-vessel CAD, 18 (27%) had 2-vessel CAD and 21 (32%) had 3-vessel CAD. There were significantly more hypertensives, hyperlipidaemics and diabetics in CAD group, while other risk factors were the same. The overall risk factor prevalence was low. The major reasons for performing coronary angiography were a positive stress test done as part of routine annual medical checkup and resting ECG changes of enough significance to warrant further investigations. It is concluded that the presence of significant coronary artery disease can be silent in a large number of asymptomatic middle aged men, especially those who have conventional risk factors.