Comparison of demographic profile, risk factors, and in-hospital outcome in young and old patients with acute coronary syndrome: A single-center experience

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is witnessing a demographic transition with increasing prevalence in younger individuals. Data is scarce comparing various characteristics of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between young and old patients in an Indian setting. Hence, we evaluated the epidemiological, demographic, risk factor, and outcome profile of young and old ACS patients in Indian setting. Methods: This was a prospective observational study, which enrolled 50 consecutive ACS patients each into two groups: younger (≤45 years) and elderly (>45 years), respectively. Comparison of clinical presentation, electrocardiography, echocardiographic findings, conventional, nonconventional risk factors, and in-hospital outcomes including duration of hospital stay and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were made between the two groups. Multivariate regression analysis of risk factors as determinants of MACE adjusting for other confounding factors was also performed. Results: Fifty patients in each group were compared. Mean age in the younger and elderly group was 36 ± 4.69 and 61.58 ± 10.69 years, respectively. Male sex, smoking, family history of CAD, hyperhomocysteinemia, and obesity were observed more in the younger population. While dyslipidemia, low physical activity, diabetes mellitus, and history of previous ACS was more in the older population. Single-vessel disease was more common in younger patients while multivessel involvement was more common in elderly patients. Older patients had longer hospital stays and more in-hospital MACE including deaths. By multivariate analysis, shock was found to be an independent predictor of MACE in both groups. Conclusion: Younger ACS patients have a different risk profile and better in-hospital outcomes compared to older patients.