Association between Acute Myocardial Infarction, Lipid Profile and Smoking Habit

Background: Myocardial Infarction is the most common form of heart disease and the single most important cause of death in the developed and developing world. Myocardial infarction is the irreversible necrosis of heart muscle secondary to prolonged ischemia. The death of heart muscle from the sudden blockage of a coronary artery by a blood clot. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the association between total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and triglycerides in serum of patients with myocardial infarction. Also the association between smoking and development of myocardial infarction. Methods: In this study hundred and seventy four patients (125 males and 49 females) of Libyan attended in an Emergency department and Intensive Care in Tajoura National Heart Center during the period from 4/2013 to 12/2013, with diagnosis of myocardial infarction and their age range from 30-90 years old. Results: In the present study the results indicated that myocardial infarction is more common in male patients (71.8%) than female patients (28.2%). Males are much more liable to myocardial infarction than female patients in the age ranges less than 50 years old. However with age range of more than 60 years old myocardial infarction is more common in female patients than male patients. The results of the present study, showed that there is no clear evidence that increased total blood cholesterol and triglycerides concentration play an important role in development of myocardial infarction in the patients included in this study, if compared with the high percentage of patients with myocardial infarction and having normal lipid profile, concerning cholesterol and triglycerides blood level. Our study demonstrates that the percentage of smokers with myocardial infarction, is significantly higher than non smokers. The percentage of smoker male patients with myocardial infarction is (61.6) and that of non smoker male patients is (38.4). Conclusion: No clear evidence that increased total blood cholesterol and triglycerides concentration play an important role in development of myocardial infarction in those patients included in this study. The effect of cigarette smoking on the development of myocardial infarction was more pronounced in younger age male patients than older ones.