Comparison of demographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics among younger and older persons with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the differences in demographic, psychosocial (depression), and clinical profiles among younger (males ≤ 50 years of age and females ≤ 55 years of age) and older (males > 50 years of age and females > 55 years of age) patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).


METHODS
This study is a preliminary analysis of data collected from 1140 patients with ACS enrolled in an ongoing longitudinal investigation.


CONCLUSIONS
As compared to their older counterparts, younger ACS patients were significantly more likely to be obese (p < .001), to smoke (p < .001), to have a higher BDI-II depression score (p < .001), and to feel depressed in the last year (p < .001). In contrast, younger ACS patients were significantly less likely to be dyslipidemic (p < .001), diabetic (p = 0.025), or hypertensive (p < .001) than their older counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians need to be persistent in promoting the importance of weight loss and smoking cessation. Screening and treating depression in younger persons is a prudent approach. The significance of regular screening and aggressive treatment of other risk factors (i.e., diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) should not be overlooked.
School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. Luba.Yammine@uth.tmc.edu
Luba
L
Yammine
Lorraine
L
Frazier
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States