title: Left main coronary artery disease in adults younger than 50 years: a comparison with older patients.
abstract: Left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease is a potentially lethal disease that can be effectively treated if it is recognized expeditiously. To determine whether clinical signs and symptoms vary with age, we examined data from 100 patients with angiographically significant LMCA disease (> or =50% stenosis). The majority of patients had myocardial infarction (32%) or Braunwald class I unstable angina (46%). There were no differences in initial symptoms, electrocardiographic findings (normal or only nonspecific changes in 52% of patients), or left ventricular function (normal or only mildly impaired in 76% of patients) between younger patients (< 50 yr; n = 29) and older patients (n = 71). Severe atherosclerosis was common in both groups. Risk factor profiles were different, however, in that diabetes mellitus (10% vs. 34%; P = 0.028) and hypertension (38% vs. 73%; P = 0.002) were less common and tobacco use was more common (79% vs. 39%; P <0.001) in younger patients. In summary, age influenced the risk factors associated with but not the clinical signs and symptoms of LMCAD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-1064, USA. rastouff@utmb.edu
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Stouffer
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brizolara
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Subbarao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000209:etiology; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left