Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) patients in Bhutan

Abstract

This paper aims to identify a survival curve involving risk factors for cardiovascular diseases patients in Bhutan. There are 5,206 cardiovascular diseases patients recorded in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) medical record department as of January 2006 to December 2016. In addition, it examines a relationship between survival time and some risk factors by using univariate and multivariate Cox's proportional hazard models. Application of Log-rank test and Cox's proportional hazard model compares the survival curves and find the covariates that affects the survival time. The results showed that, during the follow up a total of 844 (16.2%) CVD patients died which 216 (13.3%) was young-aged, 201 (13.7%) a middle-aged and 427 (20.2%) an old-aged. The survivorship curves are plotted using Kaplan Meier method and identified some risk factors using univariate and multivariate Cox's model. The risk factors were identified as, namely, age, sex, frequency of hospital visits, CVD subtype, number of diagnosis, ward, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction. Further, risk factors for each age group are illustrated at the significant p-value <0.05.