Comparison of angiographic findings, risk factors, and long term follow-upbetween young and old patients with a history of myocardial infarction

We compared the angiographic findings, coronary risk factors and five years prognosis in 200 patients less than or equal to 45, and 260 patients >45 y ears old who where admitted with an acute myocardial infarction. We found t hat family history and smoking were the most common risk factors in patient s less than or equal to 45 years old P<0.04, P<0.0001, respectively, and hy pertension and diabetes mellitus were more prevalent in patients >45 years, P<0.00001 for both. Young patients had a higher incidence of normal corona ry arteries and a lesser one of triple vessel disease in comparison with ol d ones P<0.001 and P<0.04, respectively. There was also a tendency for youn g patients to have a higher frequency of single vessel disease. The long-te rm prognosis was favourable in the younger age group since the survival rat e was much better, as well as the quality of life. Death in the young patie nts seems to be very often electrical owing to sudden ventricular fibrillat ion, whereas death in the elderly is more often associated with congestive heart failure. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.