Gender-based Comparison of Risk Factors, Presentation, Evaluation, and Treatment of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Young Indians at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) in young people continues to be a major public health problem globally and in developing countries like India. A retrospective record-based study was conducted using data from 206 patients with acute MI (aged between 18 and 45 years) at Tulip Heart Centre, Anand, Gujarat, India. Demographic data, medical history, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatments (medications and surgery), and outcomes were recorded. Out of 206 enrolled patients (151 males and 55 females), a higher number of male and female patients were recorded in the age group of 41-45 years and from the urban area. ST-elevation MI was more prevalent in men (54.30% vs. 38.18%) with higher non-ST-elevation MI in women (45.69% vs 61.81%). Significant gender differences were observed in the prevalence of risk factors, with higher rates of diabetes mellitus (27.15% vs 41.81%, P < .05), hypertension (29.8% vs 54.54%, P < .05), and smoking (39.74% vs 7.27%, P < .05), while heart disease (12.58% vs 9.09%) and obesity (3.31% vs 3.63%) were not significantly different among both genders. Furthermore, data of clinical presentation, coronary obstruction, electrocardiogram changes, two-dimensional echocardiogram, regional wall motion abnormalities, and left ventricular ejection fraction were also not significantly different between the male and female groups. The antihypertensives, antiplatelets, antianginals, anticoagulants, and antihyperlipidemic drugs prescribed were similar in both men and women. The rates for re-hospitalization for surgery and follow-up were similar in both groups. Thus, the abovementioned findings highlight gender disparities, urban-rural differences, and risk factors in acute MI prevalence in young Indians. The modifiable risk factors causing MI need addressing so as to reduce the prevalence of MI in the Indian population.