Cross-sectional Study on Myocardial Infarction in Young Adults in an Emergency Department of a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital, Davanagere, Karnataka, India.

Introduction: The incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the young has been increasing globally. Research in this population has been limited in developed countries or urban areas in developing countries. Identifying the various epidemiologic features in this age group is crucial to understand the disease. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics of young adults presenting with ACS in a rural tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 patients diagnosed with ACS. Data were collected from consecutive patients between the ages of 18 to 45 years diagnosed with ACS between January 2014 to January 2015 in the Emergency Medicine Department of a tertiary care hospital in Davanagere, India. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, risk factors, laboratory tests, and angiographic findings. Range, mean and percentages were calculated for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all variables. Results: The mean age was 38.1±5.8 years with male preponderance 46 (92%). Risk factors were smoking 36 (72%), diabetes 17 (34%), hypertension 6 (12%) and Body Mass Index (BMI) >23 kg/m2, 36 (72%). Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction (AWMI) was observed in 35 (70%) of subjects with angiography revealing Single Vessel Disease (SVD) 28 (56%), Double Vessel Disease (DVD) 5 (10%), Triple Vessel Disease (TVD) 3 (6%) and Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA) 11 (22%). Three patients died during their course of treatment before initiating an interventional procedure. Conclusion: Smoking, diabetes mellitus and elevated BMI are associated with ACS among young patients. Interventions targeting these risk factors among younger individuals should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]