Cardiovascular risk factors and clinical presentation in acute coronary syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hypothesis that risk factors may be differently related to severity of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), with ST elevation used as a marker of severe ACS.


METHODS
Cross sectional study of patients with ACS.


METHODS
103 hospitals in 25 countries in Europe and the Mediterranean basin.


METHODS
10,253 patients with a discharge diagnosis of ACS in the Euro heart survey of ACS.


METHODS
Presenting with ST elevation ACS.


RESULTS
Patients with ACS who were smokers had an increased risk to present with ST elevation (age adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.67 to 2.02). Hypertension (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.70) and high body mass index (BMI) (p for trend 0.0005) were associated with less ST elevation ACS. Diabetes mellitus was also associated with less ST elevation, but only among men. Prior disease (infarction, chronic angina, revascularisation) and treatment with aspirin, beta blockers, or statins before admission were also associated with less ST elevation. After adjustment for age, sex, prior disease, and prior medication, smoking was still significantly associated with increased risk of ST elevation (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.69), whereas hypertension was associated with reduced risk (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.82). Obesity (BMI > 30 kg/m2 versus < 25 kg/m2) was independently associated with less risk of presenting with ST elevation among women, but not among men.


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with ACS, presenting with ST elevation is strongly associated with smoking, whereas hypertension and high BMI (in women) are associated with less ST elevation, independently of prior disease and medication.
Rosengren
A
A
Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, SE-416 85 Goteborg, Sweden. Annika.Rosengren@hjl.gu.se
Wallentin
L
L
Simoons
M
M
Gitt
A K
AK
Behar
S
S
Battler
A
A
Hasdai
D
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013577:Syndrome