21-Year-old male with severe coronary atherosclerosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) typically affects older individuals but can occur prematurely in younger populations.
• Premature CHD in young individuals presents with distinct lipid profiles, risk factors, and clinical manifestations.
• Early onset of cardiovascular disease necessitates understanding unique risk profiles in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a case report of a 21-year-old male with stable angina and multivessel coronary disease.
• To highlight the distinct characteristics and risk factors associated with premature CHD in a young patient.
• To emphasize the importance of early risk factor reduction in preventing ischemic heart disease.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive cardiac workup was performed on a 21-year-old male presenting with stable angina.
• Patient's medical history, including lipid profile, blood pressure, smoking status, obesity, and family history, was evaluated.
• Diagnostic procedures were conducted to assess the extent of coronary artery disease.

Main Results:

• The patient was diagnosed with multivessel coronary heart disease at 21 years of age.
• Identified risk factors included mild dyslipidemia, hypertension, cigarette smoking, obesity, and a family history of heart disease.
• The patient underwent coronary artery bypass surgery at a young age.

Conclusions:

• Coronary heart disease can manifest in young individuals, even at 21 years old.
• Traditional CHD risk factors are sufficient to induce ischemic heart disease in the younger population.
• Risk factor reduction strategies should be implemented early in life to mitigate the prevalence of premature CHD.