Age Related Risk Factors (Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Body Mass Index/Obesity, and Hyperlipidemia) With Clinical Presentation of Coronary Artery Disease in Najaf

Abstract

Background: Clinical characteristics and risk factor profiles of acute coronary syndrome among age groups differ. These differences are important to better preventive strategies based on age-specific detection and risk stratification.

Objective: To compare demographic, metabolic, and clinical features between acute coronary syndrome patients according to their age.

Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study, 123 patients with a diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome were enrolled. Patients were classified two groups: ≤50 years (n=28) and >50 years (n=95). Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests were performed for comparison of sex, BMI, HbA1c, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking, acute coronary syndrome subtype, and troponin status.

Results: In young acute coronary syndrome patients (<50 years), male 82.1% and smoker 64.3% were more common than older ones. Hypertension 78.9% and Diabetes 48.4% were more common in the older age group >50 years. Median BMI and HbA1c were similar in both groups.  A positive troponin was much more frequent in younger patients (53.6% vs. 30.5%, p=0.02), with no significant difference in the proportions of STEMI, NSTEMI and unstable angina subtypes by age.

Conclusion: In younger patients with acute coronary syndrome, modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as smoking frequently are observed, while in older patients it is comorbidities that usually characterize burden of past medical history, in particular hypertension and diabetes. These results indicate that age-specific prevention and treatment strategies are needed for the prevention of CVD. Additional research is needed to examine targeted preventive interventions, especially among younger adults.