Årsaker til hjerteinfarkt hos unge : en retrospektiv studie av alle 30 åringer eller yngre med diagnosen akutt hjerteinfarkt i Norge i 2002-2005

Abstract

Abstract Background. Many reports have investigated different aspects of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few have looked closer at AMI among younger populations. No studies on AMI among people age ¡Ü 45 have previously been done in Norway. Our aim was to investigate risk factors for AMI at young age ¨C to see if they differ from already established risk factors among older populations. Our hypotheses were that they do. Methods and results. The study population consisted of 145 patients in Norway age ¡Ü 30 years with AMI during 2002-2005, recruited from the national patient registry. They were sorted according to gender, age and residency. The population consists predominantly of men (79 %), most are in the upper age group and they are about evenly distributed between the different regions of Norway. In order to establish important risk factors, we went through published reports on AMI in our age group. The reports are from USA (n=3) and Italy (n=1). In addition we have reviewed reports on androgenic anabolic steroids and cocaine as risk factors for AMI. We have also evaluated a few case studies to research other possible risk factors. Conclusions. The main risk factors for AMI at young age are smoking, family history of CHD and hypercholesterolemia. Less important when compared to older populations are hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Young people with AMI are influenced by multiple risk factors. They have fewer complications, shorter recovery and fewer complications after a cardiac event, but some studies conclude with equally frequent non-fatal re-infarction in all age groups.