Comparative evaluation of clinical profile, risk factors, and outcome of acute myocardial infarction in elderly and nonelderly patients

Abstract

Objective: To compare the clinical profile risk factors and in hospital outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in elderly patients (≥60 years) and nonelderly (<60 years) patients. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational cross-sectional analytical study which included all consecutive patients of AMI admitted to the Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh over a period of 1 year (June 2011 to June 2012). The patients were divided into two groups, Group I patients of <60 years and Group II patients of ≥60 years. The age more than 60 years is considered elderly as per Indian Council of Medical Research survey on Indian Geriatric population 2007. Results: Between June 2011 and June 2012, 206 patients were enrolled in the study. Total of 97 (47.1%) patients were of ≥60 years of age designated as elderly with a mean age of 69.28 ± 5.72 years, and 109 (52.9%) patients were nonelderly with a mean age of 50.54 ± 7.16 years. Family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and dyslipidemia was significantly higher as a risk factor in nonelderly whereas other conventional risk factors of CAD were equally present in both groups. Atypical pain chest, non-ST segment elevation MI along with post-MI complications and in hospital mortality was significantly higher in the elderly age group of the study population. Conclusion: The profile of CAD differs in elderly as compared to young patients. This study highlighted that atypical presentation of AMI as well post-MI complications and mortality is more common in elderly patients as compared to nonelderly patients.