Gender and Age-Based Differences in Risk Factors and Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome in a Sample of Iranian Patients

Background: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most serious diseases with high mortality. Concerning the influence of age and gender on ACS properties, this study aimed to determine gender and age-based differences in risk factors and symptoms of the ACS in a sample of Iranian patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on ۴۵۰ patients with ACS in Kerman from ۱۰ September, ۲۰۱۸ to ۲۵ February, ۲۰۱۹. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews in the coronary care unit (CCU) after ACS diagnosis. A trained interviewer collected the data using a demographic and clinical information checklist. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square, Fisher exact test, and Mann‐Whitney U test and through SPSS software (version ۲۳). Results: In this study, more than half of the patients with ACS were males (n=۲۴۰, ۵۳.۴%). In one-third of the patients, ACS symptoms were presented in the age range of ۶۰-۶۹ years (n = ۱۴۵, ۳۲.۲%). In the female patients compared to the male patients, there were more cases of underweight [۵۸ (۲۷.۶%) versus ۴۵ (۱۸.۸%), P value: ۰.۰۲], positive family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) [۱۰۲ (۴۸.۶%) versus ۹۲ (۳۸.۳%), P value: ۰.۰۲], and hypertension [۱۱۹ (۵۶.۷%) versus ۱۱۳ (۴۷.۱%), P value: ۰.۰۴]. In contrast, there were no differences in common symptoms and pain severity in patients in various age and sex groups. Conclusion: Attention to the differences in the profile of risk factors and symptoms of ACS in males and females of different ages, would be helpful in choosing the best clinical approach.