Frequency of modifiable risk factors and their outcome in patients with acute coronary syndrome admitted to Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan

Objective To determine the frequency of modifiable risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admitted to cardiology unit, Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and to find out their outcome in relation with number of associated risk factors. Methodology This cross sectional study was conducted at Cardiology Department, KTH, Peshawar. All patients who fulfill the diagnostics criteria for ACS from March 2010 to December 2010 were included in the study by consecutive sampling technique. On the basis of chest pain, ECG findings and cardiac markers, ACS was further categorized as ST-Elevation MI (STEMI), non ST elevation MI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina pectoris (UAP). Age, gender, socio-economic status (which could explain poor drug compliance), hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, current cigarette smoking and sedentary life style were noted. Length of hospital stay and death due to any cause in the hospital was also noted. Results During the study period, a total of 1432 patients were admitted to cardiac care unit and 924 were diagnosed as ACS. Out of these 924 patients, 382 (41%) had STEMI, 189 (20%) had NSTEMI and 353 (38%) experienced UAP. ACS appeared to be more common in males, 534 (58%) with mean age of 45 6 years than females 390 (42%) with mean age 54 8 years. Diseases such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus (individual or combined) and dyslipidaemia predisposed to ACS. Life style habits such as sedentary lifestyle, current cigarette smoking and low socio-economic status also appeared to predispose toACS. Conclusion There is high frequency (65%) of ACS among patients admitted to our cardiology unit with low prevalence of multiple modifiable risk factors in young age group, and rapid escalation of these risk factors in age group of 45-55 years and above, which might leads to increase morbidity and mortality in our study.