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Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the commonest cause of death worldwide. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and its consequences can be devastating particularly at younger age for a bigger impact on the patient’s psychology and ability to work. Little is known about the differential features and outcomes of young STEMI patients in Egypt. This study characterized young STEMI patients (≤ 45 years) compared to patients > 45 years and evaluated 1-year outcomes. Results A total of 492 eligible STEMI patients who presented to the National Heart Institute and Cairo University Hospitals were recruited. Young STEMI patients (< 45 years old) represented 20% of all STEMI comers. Male gender was predominant in both groups, yet with a significantly higher proportion in the younger compared to older patients (87% vs. 73%, p = 0.004). Compared to older patients, young STEMI patients had characteristically higher rates of smoking (72.4% vs. 49.7%, p < 0.001) and family history (13.3% vs. 4.8%, p = 0.002), while significantly lower rate of other conventional CAD risk factors as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (20.4% vs. 44.7%, 20.4% vs. 44.9% and 12.7% vs. 21.8%, respectively, p < 0.05 for all). Follow-up was continued for at least 12 months after the index event. Younger STEMI patients had fewer major adverse cardiovascular events and fewer heart failure hospitalizations compared to the older controls (10.2 vs. 23.9% and 18.4% vs. 34.8%, respectively, p < 0.005 for both), however, 1-year mortality was similar (3.1% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.64). Conclusions Younger STEMI patients (≤ 45 years) show peculiar characteristics, with significantly higher rates of smoking and family history of premature CAD, while less prevalence of other conventional CAD risk factors. Overall MACE occurred less in younger STEMI patients; however, the mortality rate was similar to the older controls.

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Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in patients with renal diseases. Cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death are particularly important, and the burden is higher in patients on hemodialysis. The aim of this study is to compare specific ECG changes as markers of arrhythmias in patients with CKD and patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); all without clinically manifest heart disease, with normal control subjects. Results Seventy-five ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis, 75 patients with stage 3–5 CKD and 40 healthy control subjects were included. All candidates were subjected to thorough clinical evaluation and laboratory tests including serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate calculation, serum potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, parathyroid hormone, and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Resting twelve-lead ECG was done to calculate P wave dispersion (P-WD), corrected QT interval, QTc dispersion, Tpeak-Tend interval (Tp-e), and Tp-e/QT. Patients with ESRD had a significantly higher QTc dispersion (p < 0.001) and P-WD (p = 0.001) when compared to the other 2 groups. In the ESRD group, males had a significantly higher P-WD (p = 0.045), insignificantly higher QTc dispersion (p = 0.445), and insignificantly lower Tp-e/QT ratio (p = 0.252) as compared to females. Multivariate linear regression analysis for ESRD patients showed that serum creatinine (β = 0.279, p = 0.012) and transferrin saturation (β =  − 0.333, p = 0.003) were independent predictors of increased QTc dispersion while ejection fraction (β = 0.320, p = 0.002), hypertension (β =  − 0.319, p = 0.002), hemoglobin level (β =  − 0.345, p = 0.001), male gender (β =  − 0.274, p = 0.009) and TIBC (β =  − 0.220, p = 0.030) were independent predictors of increased P wave dispersion. In the CKD group, TIBC (β =  − 0.285, p = 0.013) was an independent predictor of QTc dispersion while serum calcium (β = 0.320, p = 0.002) and male gender (β =  − 0.274, p = 0.009) were independent predictors of Tp-e/QT ratio. Conclusions Patients with stage 3–5 CKD and those with ESRD on regular hemodialysis exhibit significant ECG changes that are considered substrates for ventricular as well as supraventricular arrhythmias. Those changes were more evident in patients on hemodialysis.