**5. Quantitative analysis**

#### **5.1 Lifestyle among patients of CHD and matched non-CHD individuals**

The results of present study indicate that the mean differences were statistically significant for subscales of lifestyle.

With reference to **Table 5**, CHD and lifestyle risk factors showed a significant positive association with sleeping habits, dietary habits, exercise and Smoking respectively. It was also appeared that there was a positive link between poor social interactions, poor intimacy, more external locus of control and more money and religious values. So, the hypothesis, "Patients of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) would score higher on subscales of lifestyle as compared to matched Non-CHD individuals" is accepted.

The results of the present study support the findings of the earlier studies in association with lifestyle and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Gupta and Gupta [18] carried out a study on Indian male. In the present study, it was found that lifestyle risk factors like diet, smoking habits plays an important role in development of CHD. Orth-Gomer et al. [20] have demonstrated that low social support and poor social integration predicted incidence of major coronary events. The results revealed that the patients of CHD showed significant differences on locus of control, it indicates that the patients were titled towards external locus of control due to which they experienced the high stress on the other hand the matched non-CHD individuals due to their internal locus of control experienced less amount of stress and remain healthy [21]. The obtained results were discussed in the light of violation of assumption and compared with the results of earlier studies with necessary caution. A positive family history of premature coronary heart disease is recognized as an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality in the first degree relatives. This will enable public health and behavioral epidemiologists to plan and target appropriate and effective preventive lifestyle


#### **Table 5.**

*Means, SDs, and 't' ratios on lifestyle for CHD patients and matched non-CHD individuals.*

techniques to adults. Therefore, its primary prevention is an important factor. Several studies have shown that primary prevention of coronary heart disease by family life education in the community has better benefits compared to secondary prevention for cardiovascular mortality as well as morbidity. Prevention programmers should have a multi-level focus, including individual, family and other social institutions. It is also important to identify subgroups for intervention, so that necessary steps at earlier level itself can be taken for the prevention of lifestyle diseases like coronary heart disease.
