Clinical characteristics and statin eligibility of patients under 50 with ST‐elevation myocardial infarction

Abstract

AimsThis study seeks to understand the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and statin eligibility of younger adults who present with STEMI.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of STEMI patients <50 years. Baseline characteristics, medical history, prior medications, drug use, lipid profiles, cardiovascular risk factors were examined. Ten‐year ASCVD risk was calculated utilizing the Pooled Cohort Equations. Statin eligibility was determined according to the 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) and the 2022 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines.ResultsSix hundred and thirty‐five individuals were included, the majority were men (82.4%) and white (89%), with a median age was 46.9 [42.0–48.0]. The most prevalent risk factors were current smoking (59%), hyperlipidemia (44%), and hypertension (37%). Drug use was rare (8.3%). Preventative medication use was low, aspirin was the most common (14%), followed by ACE inhibitors/ARBs (12%), statins (11%), and beta‐blockers (9.1%). Mean HDL‐C was low at 36.4 ± 12.0 mg/dL, while mean LDL was unremarkable at 112.4 ± 37.9 mg/dL. According to the 2019 ACC/AHA guidelines, 45.5% were classified as statin recommended, 8.7% were classified as statin considered, and 45.8% were classified as statin not recommended. According to the 2022 USPSTF guidelines, 29% were classified as statin recommended, 12.4% were classified as statin considered, and 58.6% were classified as statin not recommended.ConclusionsYounger adults with STEMI exhibit high rates of tobacco use and low rates of preventative medications use. Approximately half of the cohort did not meet criteria for statin initiation.