Heart Disease Risk Rising Among Young Pakistanis, Study Warns

A major health study in Pakistan has raised concerns about heart disease after researchers found several cardiovascular risk factors among people who believed they were healthy.

Preliminary findings from the Pak Sehat Study show that high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity are common among the people screened for the research. The results were shared during a seminar at the University of Karachi held in connection with World Heart Day.

Around 2,000 people between the ages of 30 and 65 have been screened as part of the nationwide study. Participants were selected from different parts of Pakistan according to the population share of each province.

According to the preliminary results, around 45 percent of the participants had high blood pressure, while about 35 percent were found to have diabetes. Nearly 70 percent had elevated cholesterol levels.

Researchers also found obesity to be particularly common, with around 72 to 80 percent of the participants falling into the obese category.

What makes the findings more concerning is that the people taking part in the research considered themselves healthy before undergoing detailed medical checks.

Researchers examined their medical histories and conducted physical examinations, blood tests and other diagnostic procedures. These included CT angiography and ultrasound examinations, which helped doctors identify cardiovascular risk factors that had previously gone unnoticed.

Dr. Bashir Hanif, Director at Tabba Heart Institute, said obesity has a close connection with several major heart-related risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Having these conditions can increase a person's chances of developing serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks and strokes.

The research is also looking at why cardiovascular disease appears relatively early among Pakistanis.

Dr. Hanif noted that South Asians tend to develop heart disease at younger ages. He also said heart attacks are now being reported among some people who are under 30.

Researchers to Follow Participants for 10 Years

The Pak Sehat Study isn't limited to a one-time health screening. Researchers plan to follow the participants for 10 years to better understand how cardiovascular health changes over time.

During this period, participants will undergo medical examinations and blood tests at different stages. Their medical histories will also be reviewed again.

CT angiography is expected to be repeated after five years and then again after 10 years, allowing researchers to track changes in coronary arteries.

Blood samples from participants have also been preserved for genetic research. Scientists plan to study whether genetic factors could help explain why some Pakistanis develop cardiovascular problems relatively early in life.

Diet, lifestyle and environmental conditions will also be examined as possible contributors.

The study is particularly focused on premature narrowing of the coronary arteries and the factors that may increase this risk among young and middle-aged adults.

While the findings are preliminary and come from the people included in the study rather than the entire population, they highlight the importance of regular health screening.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol don't always cause obvious symptoms in their early stages. Someone may feel healthy while still carrying risk factors that can affect heart health over time.

The long-term findings of the Pak Sehat Study could provide researchers with a clearer picture of why cardiovascular disease develops relatively early in Pakistan and which preventive measures could help reduce the risk.