Acute myocardial infarction in diabetic patients in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

During a study period of sixteen months 142 cases of acute myocardial infarction were admitted to the Coronary Care Unit of Al-Adan Hospital. Diabetes mellitus was found in 40.8% of the cases and occurred in 51% of Kuwaiti and 31% of non-Kuwaiti patients. Twenty-two per cent of diabetic patients had no chest pain but presented with nausea, vomiting and epigastric discomfort. Signs of left ventricular failure occurred in 55% of diabetics and 27% of non-diabetics. Hospital mortality for all cases was 19% and was higher in diabetics [27.6%] than in non-diabetics [13%]. Increased mortality affected mainly diabetic females [60% mortality] and younger diabetic males [17.4% mortality]. Pump failure caused more deaths in diabetics [69%] than in non-diabetics [36%], most probably due to severe vascular disease