Last update:
02-Sep-2004

OBJECTIVE In previous decades various lifestyle factors have been found to be associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of this study was to perform a contemporary risk assessment in a Mediterranean population, based on established and emerging lifestyle risk factors such as smoking habit, physical activity and alcohol consumption.

METHOD From January 2000 to January 2001, 1322 randomly selected subjects from several regions of Greece were included in the study of whom 535 were male (56.4±3 years) and 126 female patients (65.3±2 years) with a first event of an acute coronary syndrome, and 661 were controls free of cardiovascular disease matched by sex, age and region.

RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that stopping smoking is exponentially related with the reduction of the coronary risk. Conversely, passive smoking increases the risk significantly, especially when the exposure is from the family or the work environment. Familial smoking habits are related to the current smoking status, quadrupling the coronary risk. A J-shape association was found between alcohol intake and the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Sedentary life increases the coronary risk, while long-term regular physical activity plays a preventive role in the reduction of this risk, even in the elderly.

CONCLUSIONS A combination of the established and emerging lifestyle factors seem to be associated with the risk of developing coronary heart disease in Greece.

Key words: Alcohol, Coronary heart disease, Risk, Smoking.