Epidemiology and clinical features of acute coronary syndrome patients in selected hospitals in Greece: the CALLINICUS-Hellas registry

BACKGROUND: the aim of this study is to evaluate features of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, in Greece, using information from a nationwide registry, the Clinical events and Adherence to Lipid LowerINg therapy In aCUte coronary Syndrome (CALLINICUS)-Hellas registry. METHODS: CALLINICUS-Hellas Registry is an ongoing, national, multicentre observational registry that aims to evaluate features and incidence of ACS patients in Greece. From January 2022 to December 2025, 2,661 consecutive ACS patients (2,151 males, 60 ± 11 years, 510 females, 63 ± 11 years) were enrolled in the selected collaborating cardiology clinics (15-55% participation rate). Four-point Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) including cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] and non-STEMI [NSTEMI]), ischaemic stroke and unstable angina (UA) requiring hospitalisation was the outcome of interest at 6-months follow-up. RESULTS: The most common ACS manifestation was NSTEMI (48%) in both sexes, followed by STEMI (37.4%) and UA (13.1%). The male-to-female ratio was approximately 4-to-1. The sex ratio favours males before age 60 years but shifts towards females thereafter. The mean age of ACS was 60 years in males, and 63 years in females. Almost 1 in 4 male and 1 in 6 female ACS patients had a previous cardiovascular event. At 6-months follow-up of 2,068 patients, MACE was observed in 120 patients (5.8%), and the most common manifestation was NSTEMI followed by UA. CONCLUSIONS: By addressing the lack of recent registry data, the present study provides an updated description of the demographic, lifestyle, clinical, and healthcare characteristics of ACS patients treated in selected Greek hospitals, offering contemporary insights that may inform future research and healthcare planning.