English

Abstract

BACKGROUND India is leading the world in incidence, prevalence, complications and mortality due to coronary artery disease (CAD). Various risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, smoking and obesity. It has been proposed that high serum ferritin levels are associated with enhancement in myocardial ischaemic response along with decreased ischaemic threshold in the setting up of acute ischaemic conditions. In this study, we wanted to measure and compare serum ferritin levels in patients of acute coronary syndrome and healthy controls to know the association between serum ferritin levels and risk of acute coronary syndrome. METHODS 60 patients of acute coronary syndrome admitted at Sri Guru Ram Das Hospital, Vallah Sri Amritsar were taken as cases and 60 age and sex matched healthy controls were taken. Serum ferritin levels were measured in both the cases and controls and were compared. RESULTS Most of the patients of ACS were in the age group of 51 - 60 years. Hypertension was the most common risk factor observed followed by diabetes mellitus (DM). Mean serum cholesterol levels were higher in cases. The most common vessel involved in ACS was left anterior descending artery (LAD). The difference in mean serum ferritin levels of cases and controls was statistically significant with higher levels in cases as compared to controls. These patients also had higher risk of developing heart failure and had a longer hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS The difference between serum ferritin levels in cases of ACS and controls was statistically significant. People with raised serum ferritin levels are at a greater risk of developing ACS as compared to those with normal serum ferritin levels. KEYWORDS Acute Coronary Syndrome, Serum Ferritin, Systolic Function, Diastolic Function, Mortality, Hospital Stay