Clinical characteristics and statin eligibility of patients under 50 with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: This study seeks to understand the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and statin eligibility of younger adults who present with STEMI.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of STEMI patients <50 years. Baseline characteristics, medical history, prior medications, drug use, lipid profiles, cardiovascular risk factors were examined. Ten-year ASCVD risk was calculated utilizing the Pooled Cohort Equations. Statin eligibility was determined according to the 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) and the 2022 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines.

Results: Six hundred and thirty-five individuals were included, the majority were men (82.4%) and white (89%), with a median age was 46.9 [42.0-48.0]. The most prevalent risk factors were current smoking (59%), hyperlipidemia (44%), and hypertension (37%). Drug use was rare (8.3%). Preventative medication use was low, aspirin was the most common (14%), followed by ACE inhibitors/ARBs (12%), statins (11%), and beta-blockers (9.1%). Mean HDL-C was low at 36.4 ± 12.0 mg/dL, while mean LDL was unremarkable at 112.4 ± 37.9 mg/dL. According to the 2019 ACC/AHA guidelines, 45.5% were classified as statin recommended, 8.7% were classified as statin considered, and 45.8% were classified as statin not recommended. According to the 2022 USPSTF guidelines, 29% were classified as statin recommended, 12.4% were classified as statin considered, and 58.6% were classified as statin not recommended.

Conclusions: Younger adults with STEMI exhibit high rates of tobacco use and low rates of preventative medications use. Approximately half of the cohort did not meet criteria for statin initiation.