title: The demographic profile of young patients (<45 years-old) with acute coronary syndromes in Queensland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is little data regarding the demographic profile of young (<45 years) Australian acute coronary syndrome patients. The aim of this study was to compare baseline characteristics, risk factor profile and outcomes of young patients compared with their older counterparts referred to two metropolitan Queensland hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a four-year period, data on acute coronary syndrome patients referred to The Prince Charles and Royal Brisbane Hospitals were retrospectively analysed. Three major groups were identified: <45 years, 45-60 years and those >60 years. Age, sex, body mass index, risk factor profile, degree of coronary disease, left ventricular dysfunction, mode of presentation, initial pharmacological therapy and mortality data were compared between the three groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4549 patients were analysed of whom, 277 were less than 45 years old. Younger patients tended to be male, more overweight and present more commonly with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction compared to their older counterparts. Smoking, family history and dyslipidaemia tended to occur more frequently in younger patients as compared to those >45 years. Those patients >45 years tended to present with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction and have a higher degree of ischaemic burden and left ventricular dysfunction. No patients <45 years died in their index admission at 30 days or at one year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although young patients <45 years make up the minority (6.1%) of patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome and generally have a favourable prognosis, this paper highlights the need for aggressive risk factor modification, with particular attention to smoking and dyslipidaemia, before the onset of overt clinical disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia; Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine, Australia. Electronic address: tony.chen@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Tony Shang-Chuan
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Incani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Tom C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia.
authors.forename: Donna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Callow
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Cnr Butterfield Street and Bowen Bridge Road, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Colburn
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Cnr Butterfield Street and Bowen Bridge Road, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hammett
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Rode Road, Chermside, QLD 4032, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Walters
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Demographic; Patients; Profile; Young