ObjectiveST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with significant mortality leading to loss of productive life years, especially in younger patients. This study aims to compare the characteristics and outcomes of young versus older patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) to help focus public health efforts in STEMI prevention.MethodsData from the Coronary Care Unit database of the National University Hospital, Singapore from July 2015 to June 2019 were reviewed. Patients were divided into young (<50 years old) or older (≥50 years old) groups.ResultsOf the 1818 consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent PPCI, 465 (25.6%) were <50 years old. Young compared with older patients were more likely to be male, current smokers, of Indian ethnicity, have family history of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and had lower 1 year mortality (3.4% vs 10.4%, p<0.0001). Although diabetes, hypertension or dyslipidaemia was less common among young patients, the prevalence of having any one of these risk factors was high in the range of 28% to 38%. Age was an independent predictor of mortality in the older but not younger patients with STEMI, and diabetes showed a trend towards mortality in both groups.ConclusionYoung patients with STEMI are more often smokers, of Indian ethnicity and had family history of IHD, although cardiometabolic risk factors are also prevalent. Mortality is lower, but not negligible, among the young patients with STEMI. Public health efforts are needed to reduce the prevalence of these risk factors among the constitutionally susceptible population.
Introduction:
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality leading to loss of productivity and productive life years, especially in younger patients. Understanding the characteristics of younger patients with STEMI and their outcomes could help focus public health efforts in STEMI prevention within a population.
Aim:
This study aims to compare the characteristics and outcomes of younger versus older patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous intervention (PPCI).
Methods:
Data from the Coronary Care Unit database of the National University Hospital between July 2015 to June 2019 was reviewed. Patients were divided into Young (<50 years old) or Old (≥50 years old) groups.
Results:
Of the 1818 consecutive patients with STEMI and underwent PPCI, 465 (25.6%) were Young patients with mean age 43±4.9 years old as compared to Old patients with mean age 63.2±9.4 years old. Young patients were more likely to be male (94% vs. 85%, p<0.0001), current smokers (61.1% vs. 42.6%, p<0.0001), of Indian ethnicity (32% vs. 16.3%, p<0.0001), and had family history of myocardial infarction (MI) (18.1% vs. 9.5%, p<0.0001). Compared to Old patients, Young patients had better post-MI left ventricular ejection fraction (49.5±10.7 vs. 47.8±11.6, p=0.007) with fewer of them suffered from cardiogenic shock (7.1% vs. 13.2%, p<0.0001), and had lower mortality at one year (3.4% vs. 10.4%, p<0.0001). Although diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia was less common among the Young patients when compared to the Old, the prevalence was high in the range of 28 to 38% (Table 1).
Conclusions:
A sizable proportion of STEMI patients are younger than 50 years old. The risk profile of these younger patients can be attributed to constitutional factors and smoking but other cardiovascular risk factors are also prevalent among them. Although mortality is lower among the younger than the older patients, it is not negligible.
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