THE INCIDENCE OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN YOUNG PATIENTS WHO WERE ADMITTED INTO THE CORONARY CARE UNIT OF AL-YARMOUK TEACHING HOSPITAL

Background: Younger folks are frequently diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI), which mostly affects people over 45. Young-onset MI causes significant morbidity, psychological, and financial difficulties on patients and their families. World Health Organization criteria for MI include an increase in cardiac troponin, characteristic symptoms, electrocardiographic abnormalities, pathological Q waves, or coronary intervention. Objective: This study estimated the frequency of myocardial infarction in young patients under 45 years old and assessed their clinical features and risk variables. Patients and Methods: The coronary care unit at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital accepted 595 acute myocardial infarction patients between April 2010 and January 2011 for a cross-sectional research. Enrolling all consecutive MI patients during the research was convenient, non-random sampling. Data were obtained using a standardized questionnaire that comprised demographics, clinical presentation, cardiovascular risk factors, physical assessments, and biochemical tests. Results: 10% of the 595 acute myocardial infarction patients were under 45. In patients under 45 years old, males made up 90% and females 10%, whereas in those over 45, males made up 65% and females 35% (p = 0.0001). Chest discomfort was the most prevalent symptom in 85.1% of young patients and 70.1% of older individuals. Smoking (90%) and a positive family history of coronary artery disease (40.2%) were the biggest risk factors for younger patients (p = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively), whereas diabetes and hypertension dominated older individuals. Infarction site did not differ by age (p = 0.672). Conclusion: Myocardial infarction in young adults is not uncommon, occurs predominantly in males, and is strongly associated with smoking and a positive family history of coronary artery disease.