Poster No. 044 Cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease in the young – a single centre analysis

Cardiovascular events in the young appear to be increasing. Conversely, this is not the tendency reported in older adults. Identifying risk factors is of the uttermost importance to improve cardiovascular prevention.

Retrospective, single-centre analysis of patients with less than 45 years and suspected coronary heart disease who were subjected to cardiac catheterization in our centre during a 5-year period.

A total of 171 patients were included with a median age of 42 ± 6 years of which 82% were male. Overweight (73%), smoking (61%) and dyslipidemia (42%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary heart disease was diagnosed in 67% of patients. After univariate analysis, gender (P = 0.049), age (P = 0.005), smoking (P = 0.032), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = 0.005) and total cholesterol (P = 0.003) were significantly associated with disease in coronary angiography. After multivariate logistic regression, only age (OR = 1.123; CI 95% [1.036–1.217]; P < 0.005) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR = 1.016; CI 95% [1.004–1.028]; P = 0.009) remained as independent factors of coronary heart disease.

It is known that awareness regarding a healthy lifestyle should be raised in the general population. As several modifiable risk factors have an impact on cardiovascular disease, there is an urgent need to improve primary prevention. Conversely, a more thorough investigation is needed in the cases where no significant coronary disease is found.

According to our analysis, age and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol appear to have a stronger relevance in this young population.