Exploring the Risk Factors of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Young Adults

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is increasingly affecting young adults under 45 years of age, driven by both traditional and evolving cardiovascular risk factors. The early onset of AMI poses significant long-term consequences for patients, families, and healthcare systems. Despite advancements in preventive cardiology, limited regional data exists to quantify the strength of association between specific risk factors and AMI in younger populations, highlighting the need for targeted research and prevention strategies. Objective: To assess the association of risk factors with acute myocardial infarction in young adults. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, over a 6-month period from March to September 2024. A total of 340 participants were enrolled, comprising 170 cases (young adults with AMI) and 170 age- and sex-matched controls (without AMI), selected through non-probability consecutive sampling. After obtaining informed consent, participants were evaluated using a structured proforma that recorded demographic data and risk factor profiles including smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity (BMI >30 kg/m²), hypertension (BP >160/90 mmHg), diabetes mellitus (BSR >200 mg/dL), dyslipidemia (TC >200 mg/dL), family history of AMI, and other behavioral exposures. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Chi-square test. An OR >1 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 37.57 ± 5.90 years, with 76.2% males and 23.8% females. Among cases, 66.5% were smokers, 78.8% had a sedentary lifestyle, 62.9% were hypertensive, and 45.3% had diabetes mellitus. Dyslipidemia was reported in 32.4% of cases compared to 5.9% in controls (OR: 7.65, 95% CI: 3.74–15.64). Male sex (OR: 7.24), smoking (OR: 3.37), and diabetes (OR: 3.43) were among the strongest predictors. Conclusion: Young adults with risk factors such as smoking, sedentary behavior, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and a family history of AMI had significantly higher odds of developing acute myocardial infarction