A Study of Clinical Presentation and Risk Factors for Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients Below 40 Years at a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in young Indians, which accounts for 12-16% of cases in people below 45 years old and contributes to 50% of CAD-related deaths in those below 50 years. Traditional risk factors for CAD as hypertension and smoking explain most cases of CAD, but 15-20% have no identifiable risk factors. Recent studies show elevated Lp(a) and hyperhomocysteinemia play a role in MI and that measuring Apo B and Apo A1 is better than measuring LDL-C and HDL-C. The true prevalence of CAD in the young is understated and this study aims to determine the association of newly identified and traditional risk factors with premature onset of CAD in those 40 years or younger.Method: This was a prospective, observational study conducted in the department of general medicine at Jhalawar Medical College on 50 patients who had suffered an acute myocardial infarction.A comprehensive evaluation was performed using a pre-test proforma that included a detailed clinical history, physical examination, electrocardiography, biochemical analysis, and an echocardiographic evaluation.Results: The majority of patients (60%) were in the age range of 35-40 years,with the youngest being 19 years old.88% of the patients were male and the mean age for female patients was 36.17 years and for males, it was 34.02 years.The most common symptom in young patients was chest pain (90%),followed by sweating (52%) and breathlessness (30%).The most common risk factor for MI was tobacco abuse (86%), followed by a positive family history of CAD (16%) and a high BMI (8%).The majority of patients (72%) had multiple risk factors for AMI,24% had a single risk factor,and 4% had none.The homocysteine level was above normal in 42% of patients, with 2% having a high risk. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of addressing risk factors for better patient outcomes in the case of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI).To address the high prevalence of cigarette smoking in young adults,preventive educational programs and smoking cessation clinics need to be established.Medical personnel should prioritize educating the youth on diabetes and cholesterol management