Young and elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction: a comparative study of percutaneous coronary intervention

INTRODUCTION: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can be initiated by vascular endothelial injury, which facilitates thrombus formation and subsequently leads to coronary artery obstruction. Angiographic assessment enables the identification of various patterns of coronary injury. Characterizing early-onset and late-onset AMI may provide insights to guide optimal treatment strategies. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 117 patients with AMI, classified into early-onset (18-55 years) and late-onset (56-75 years) groups. Data were analysed to identify differences between groups. RESULTS: The median age was 50 years in the early-onset group and 67 years in the late-onset group. Patients in the early-onset group exhibited a significantly higher median body weight (80 kg) compared to the late-onset group. Hypertension (HTN) was the most frequent comorbidity in both groups, present in 30% of early-onset patients and 61.8% of late-onset patients. Early-onset patients also had significantly higher total cholesterol levels, while other comorbidities were more prevalent among late-onset individuals. Late-onset patients demonstrated a tendency toward higher glycated haemoglobin levels. Coronary angiography revealed that the most frequently affected vessel was the left anterior descending artery or its branches, with a similar distribution between the two age groups. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of AMI cases occur in early-onset patients. These patients demonstrated higher cholesterol levels and a trend towards more aggressive coronary disease. These findings highlight the need for early detection of dyslipidaemia and targeted prevention strategies. Larger studies are warranted to better characterise this population and inform public health interventions.