Risk factors in young patients of acute myocardial infarction
Abdul Wajid Khan Faisal1, Mohammad Ayub, Tariq Waseem
1Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, Pakistan. drwajidkhan@hotmail.com
Insights
Young adults experiencing their first acute myocardial infarction often have multiple risk factors. Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are key modifiable risks in this demographic.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Ischemic heart disease is a leading global cause of mortality.
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasingly diagnosed in younger populations.
- Limited data exists on risk factor prevalence in young patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify prevalent risk factors in young patients experiencing their first acute MI.
- To quantify the number of risk factors per patient.
Main Methods:
- A study of 100 consecutive patients aged 16-45 with first acute MI.
- Assessment of twelve risk factors including smoking, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and lifestyle factors.
- Comparison of risk factors between two age groups: ≤35 years (Group A) and 36-45 years (Group B).
Main Results:
- Smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension showed significant differences between age groups.
- Prevalent risk factors included male sex (91%), diet (66%), dyslipidemia (62%), smoking (46%), and Type A personality (46%).
- A high percentage (94%) of patients presented with three or more risk factors.
Conclusions:
- Major modifiable risk factors for young adults with acute MI are smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
- Clinical suspicion for CAD is warranted in young smokers or diabetics presenting with chest pain.
- Alcohol and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) were found to be less significant risk factors in this cohort.
Background:
Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death throughout the world. CAD has been recognized among younger age group more frequently in recent years. Very limited data is available regarding the prevalence of various risk factors in our younger patients that is why this study was planed. Objectives of the study were to look for the risk factors most prevalent in our young patient of 1st Acute Myocardial Infarction. And to also look for the number of Risk Factors present in each patient.
Methods:
We studied 100 consecutive patients from 16-45 years of age presenting with first acute MI. Twelve risk factors were studied namely, gender, family history of premature CAD, smoking hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, mental stress (type A personality), alcohol, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), physical activity, and diet. We divided the patients into two groups. Group A with patients 35 years of age or less and group B with patients 36-45 years of age. All risk factors were compared in both the groups.
Results:
Smoking, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and hypertension were statistically different between the two groups. Frequency wise risk factors were lined up as male sex (91%) Diet (66%), Dyslipidemia (62%), smoking (46%), Type A personality(46%), family history (32%), diabetes mellitus (28%), sedentary lifestyle (26%), hypertension (22%), obesity (17%), alcohol (3%), and OCPs (0%) Most of the patients that is 94% had 3 or more risk factors.
Conclusion:
Smoking, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia are the major modifiable risk factors in our young adults. If a young male who is smoker or a young female who is diabetic, presents in emergency room with chest pain, always suspect coronary artery disease. Other conventional risk factors are also prevalent but alcohol and OCPs are not a major health problem for us.
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