Gender Difference in Frequency of Conventional Risk Factors in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome Admitted in Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the major manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a major killer of mankind. The modifiable risk factors for CAD may have different impact on men and women, which may also differ in different population groups. Identification and control of conventional risk factors is expected to result in a decline in incidence of CAD similar to that seen in western industrialized countries.

Method: A retrospective study of 232 consecutive patients admitted to Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara between September 2009 to December 2010 by studying their hospital records for following conventional risk factors of CAD viz Body mass index, current cigarette smoking, hypertension, excessive alcohol use, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. The results were analyzed by SPSS 16.

Results: The important modifiable risk factors in order of descending frequency were high BMI, smoking, hypertension, excessive alcohol use, raised total cholesterol, raised triglyceride and diabetes mellitus. Smoking and excessive use of alcohol were seen in statistically significant higher percentage of cases in males. Our study further revealed that in females, unstable angina whereas in males ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was present in statistically significant higher number of cases.

Conclusion: Our study showed a statistically significant higher incidence of smoking and excessive alcohol use as risk factors for ACS in males. It was also seen that in females unstable angina and in males STEMI was present in statistically significant higher number of cases.

Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Coronary artery disease; gender difference; risk factor

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njms.v1i1.5794  

Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences. 2012; 1(1): 31-34