Behavior of acute myocardial infarction in older adults assisted at “Policlínico XX Aniversario”

Abstract

Introduction: At present, ischemic heart disease is one of the most serious health problems worldwide and also statistically considered the leading cause of death in the developed world.

Objective: To characterize the behavior of acute myocardial infarction in older adults.
Method: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out on 62 elderly belonging to the health area of the «Policlínico XX Aniversario» from Santa Clara, Cuba, who were discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Main variables were risk factors, myocardial infarction location, and complications.
Results: There was a male predominance of (62.9%), age group between 60 and 69 years (59.7%). There was greater account of patients from the «Condado Sur» Family Doctor's Office (41.9%). Cardiovascular risk factor most frequently found was hypertension (53.2%), with significant difference (p <0.05), followed by alcoholism (35.5%) and obesity (29.0%). Inferior infarction was the most common, found in 24 patients (38.7%); followed by antero-septal (22.6%) and anterolateral (21.0%). Pump failure was diagnosed in 24 patients (38.7%), which represents a statistically significant difference (p=0.01), followed in frequency by electrical complications.
Conclusions: Males and age group between 60-69 years predominate. High blood pressure, as risk factor, inferior location of infarction, and pump failure as complication, were the most frequently found.