Age and gender differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk scores in adults in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: To evaluate age and gender differences in the prevalence of chronic diseases and to calculate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores in adults aged 30-75 years in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This cross-sectional, interview-based study was conducted with 2997 men and women, visiting primary health care centers in Riyadh, during the years 2015 to 2016. Serum glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid levels were measured by ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography and fully automated analyzer using enzymatic methods, respectively. The 10-year and lifetime ASCVD risk scores were calculated using an online calculator.

Results: The mean age of men was 43.1 (±11.7) and women was 43.8 (± 10.9) years. Prevalence rates of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity in men versus women were 20.3% versus 24.8% (=0.006), 15% versus 19.5% (=0.003), 50.7% versus 53.4% (=0.16), and 41.2% versus 56.7% (<0.001), respectively. Majority of men and women with chronic diseases belonged to the age groups 30-39 and 50-59 years, respectively. High 10-year ASCVD risk was found in 32% men and 7.6% women, whereas lifetime risk was present in 67% and 51%, respectively.

Conclusion: Women in the age group 50-59 years, with multiple risk factors are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases than men of same age. Young adults were at more risk for lifetime ASCVD, whereas the 10-year ASCVD risk increased with increasing age.