October 8, 2025

Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Rate in Patients Hospitalized Due to Acute Coronary Syndrome During One Year at a Single Coronary Care Unit

Key Points

Hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome resulted in a mortality rate of 13.1%, with significant factors being older age and chronic kidney disease.
Among 84 patients, 71.4% presented with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and 45.2% had diabetes as a major coronary risk factor.
The study identified a higher utilization of thrombolytic therapy compared to PCI, particularly in STEMI cases, contrasting with European center practices.
The finding that mortality rates were higher in females and among patients not receiving PCI suggests effective treatments may need to be optimized.

Abstract

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause for coronary care unit admissions. It ranges from non-STelevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) including non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and unstableangina to acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) . Our aim was to study the clinical picture,management and outcome of ACS patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) at a tertiary heart centre inTripoli-Libya. A retrospective study was performed on the spectrum of ACS in subjects admitted to the CCU inTajoura National Heart Center from January 2014 to December 2014. Details including coronary risk factors, categories and outcomes were analyzed. A total of 84 patients were included in the study, the majority 64 (76.2%) weremales. their mean age was 58± 14 years, 22(26.1%) were < 50 years, and the most common age group was from 50to 59 years. The majority 60 (71.4%) had STEMI and 24 (28.6%) had NSTEACS. The major coronary disease riskfactors were; diabetes 38 (45.2%), hypertension 38 (33.3%), history of ischemic heart disease 18 (21.4%), chronickidney disease (CKD) 15 (17.9%) and smoking 41 (48.8%). According to GRACE score, 13 (15.5%) were categorized as high risk, 13 (15.5%) intermediate risk and 56 (66.7%) low risk. 30 patients (35.7%) received thrombolytictherapy, 33 (39.3%)underwent percutaneous Coronary intervention (PCI), 6 patients (7.1%) received both forms oftherapy. The mean duration of CCU stay was 4.26 ± 5 days. 11 (13.1%) patients died in the CCU including 6 (10%)with STEMI and 5 (20.8%) with NSTEACS, their. The mortality was more among the older patients (mean age was68.45 years ± 14.6) (P.008) and the likelihood ratio of death was more in; females (2.9), CKD patients (2.5), highgrace score (10.45) (P .008) and in patients who did not undergo PCI (12) (P.004). In this study, the ACS patientswere of relatively younger age, higher prevalence of diabetes and higher GRACE risk score. Compared with theEuropean centers; PCI was less (almost half) performed and fibrinolytic therapy was more used in STEMI, and PCIwas less performed in NSTEACS. The CCU mortality was high and further studies are needed to evaluate it’s theunderlying reasons.

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