Incidence and associated factors for acute myocardial infarction in patients with chest pain

Abstract

Coronary  heart  disease  is  one  of  the  main  pathologies causing  morbidity  and  mortality worldwide.  In  Colombia there are few published studies  showing  the semiological characteristics associated with acute myocardial  infarction (AMI)  in  a  patient with  chest  pain.  Patients and Methods. A case prospective observational  study  and  controls  nested  in  a  cohort.  Case  definition: Patients  with  chest pain  and  diagnosed  with  acute myocardial  infarction  (AMI).  Definition  of control: Patients with  chest  pain  caused  by  pathologies  other  than  AMI. Two controls were taken for each case.  Data collection was performed  using an  instrument applied  by  interv iew andreview of medical  histories.  The analysis was performe dusing  the statistical  package  Epi  Info  7.0. Results. Total  of  141  patients,  47  cases  and  94  controls. 93.6% was admitted for chest pain. There is an  association between  the  presence  of  certain  clinical  variables  and cardiovascular  risk factors  and  the  likelihoodof  AMI.  Age and smoking are among thestatistically significant factors for cardiovascular risk. Conclusion.  Based  on  the  findings  it  is  concluded  that there are some clinical features and  risk factors that, when present in  patients  with  chest  pain  and  /or  angina equivalent,  can  lead  the clinician  to  a  diagnosis  of AMI.