Abstract
Aims
Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are a leading cause for mortality and morbility worldwide. Despite ACS usually affects the older population, it also occurs in younger individuals. Young ACS patients (YACS) have a significantly worse prognosis compared to their age-mates in the general population. Despite YACS are characterized by a different risk profiles compared to their older mates, many aspects still remain elusive. Aim of this study was to describe the clinical profile of young adults with Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Methods and results
Young patients (≤50 years) with the first diagnose of Acute Coronary Syndrome admitted to the Magna Graecia University Hospital were enrolled in the ongoing GENEPAMY registry. Over 7 years, a total of 675 eligible patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome aged 44 ± 8 years were included. Men accounted for 84.9% of all patients. Overall, 11.9% of patients had diabetes, 69.1% hypertension, 17.6% obesity, 93.6% dyslipidemia, while 75.5% were smokers. In the overall cohort, 44.1% were first diagnosed with STEMI, 45.9% with NSTEMI, while the remaining had been admitted for Unstable Angina. Cardiogenic shock was present at admission in 2.7% of cases. Multivessel disease was present in 39% of cases and was significantly less frequent in women (P < 0.001). Thrombolysis was administered as the initial treatment in 15.1% of cases but was ineffective in 66.7% of patients. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty was performed in 79.1% of patients, while 1.9% of patients underwent surgical myocardial revascularization. Spontaneous coronary dissection was present in 0.7% of men and 17.2% of women (P < 0.001). At admission, 98.9% of patients had been treated with ASA, 17.9% with clopidogrel, 49.1% with ticagrelor and 28.4% with prasugrel. A complete revascularization was achieved in 81.6% during the index hospitalization but was significantly more frequent in women compared to men (86.3% vs. 80.8; P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Our data highlight that YACS present a peculiar clinical profile. In particular, the high cardiovascular risk profile demands attention. Finally, despite most patients were men, young women with ACS present several relevant differences compared to men, needing a more careful clinical management.
Epidemiological Features and Clinical Presentations of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young Patients