Cardiovascular Metrics in Hospitalized Male Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality globally, with a pronounced impact in India. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which includes unstable angina (UA), non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is a manifestation of CAD. In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) introduced Life's Simple 7 (LS7) to improve cardiovascular health (CVH) by emphasizing disease prevention and lifestyle changes. This study aims to find the prevalence and distribution of LS7 metrics in hospitalized male patients with ACS compared to healthy individuals.

Methods: An observational case-control study was conducted at Government Medical College, Kota, between December 2022 and 2023, involving 50 male cases of ACS and 100 male controls, in the age-group 21-50. The Life's Simple 7 score was calculated by recording blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), diet, physical activity, and smoking/tobacco use. Scores were categorized into three groups, with 10-14 having ideal CVH, 5-9 as intermediate, and 0-4 as poor. Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, employing Chi-square, ANOVA, and calculating odds ratios and relative risk.

Observations: In this study, ACS cases had a mean LS7 score of 7.68, lower than the control group's 9.39, showing poorer CVH. High prevalence rates of hypertension (28%), diabetes (12%), and dyslipidemia (4%) were significant contributors to ACS, with odds ratios of 2.2, 1.94, and 1.94, respectively, and relative risks of 1.67, 1.83, and 1.83. Smoking was highly prevalent among ACS cases (96%), with an odds ratio of 12.77 and a relative risk of 1.47. Ideal BMI was present in only 48% of cases, with an odds ratio of 2.5 and a relative risk of 2.29. STEMI (78%) was prevalent among ACS cases, with single-vessel disease most common in angiographic findings.

Conclusion: The ACS cases studied had suboptimal CVH metrics compared to controls. These findings highlight the critical role of healthy lifestyles and managing modifiable risk factors in reducing ACS incidence and improving CVH outcomes.