Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in United States and many parts of the world. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of coronary artery disease in residents and non-residents of elderly care homes in Tehran.

Methods & Materials: In this descriptive study, about 382 elderly with above 65 years of age participated, from whom 191 were non-resident and 191 were resident of elderly care homes in Tehran in 1388. Random-cluster sampling method was used to choose samples from elderly care homes of different regions of Tehran and also the same was performed for non-resident elderly in houses of Tehran. Required data was gathered by interview using a questionnaire. Measurement of height and weight (body-mass index or BMI), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and blood lipid profile was performed as well. All statistics were computed using SPSS17 software using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests, 2 and Fisher’s Exact test. P<0.05 denoted a statistical significance.

Results: Prevalence of risk factors in resident and non-resident elderly of elderly care homes was as follows: high systolic (26.2% and 36.6%) and diastolic (24.1% and 31.9%) blood pressure, high cholesterol (28.3% and 36.1%), high triglyceride (31.4% and 42.9%), obesity (12.6% and 22%), diabetes (12% and 17.3%), physical inactivity (18.8% and 7.4%) and lack of exercise(56.6% and 16.2%), stress (22.5% and 2.1%) (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in elderly is high. Prevalence of all risk factors was higher in non-resident elderly than residents of elderly care homes except physical activity, exercise and stress. Therefore, training elderly the correct lifestyle could decrease the risk of coronary artery disease and its complications.