[Hypertension as a risk factor in acute infarct in young people]. / Hipertenzija kao rizik u akutnom infarktu mladih.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is one of the most frequent risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this paper was to establish both the incidence of hypertension as a risk factor for myocardial infarction in young people and its characteristics. METHODS: The investigation involved patients younger than 40 years of age with acute myocardial infarction treated at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Sremska Kamenica from 1989 to 1994. RESULTS: The investigation involved 80 patients with acute myocardial infarction younger than 40 years--40 male and 40 female. Hypertension as a risk factor was found in 22 (55%) women and in 14 (35%) men and it was a moderate hypertension of systolic-diastolic type or unstable hypertension. In 10 (27.77%) investigated patients hypertension was detected during hospitalization (before that, it had not been controlled) while in 22 (61%) it was not seriously taken into account either by the patients, or their physicians and therefore it was not treated. As a single risk factor hypertension was found in 4 (10%) women, while it was not found in men. DISCUSSION: Hypertension is found in 10-15% of population, and in 10% young men and women. The existence of hypertension as the only risk factor for the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction was sufficient in these women, although it was considered that women in their generative period are protected from ishaemic heart diseases by their hormonal status. All that points to hypertension as a secret and mysterious killer. CONCLUSION: Hypertension as a risk factor was found in 22 (55%) women, and in 14 (35%) men. In 10% of women hypertension was the only risk factor, while it was not found as such in men. It was quite sufficient in these women for the occurrence of acute myocardial infarction, although it was considered that women in their generative period are protected from ishaemia in heart diseases by their hormonal status. Detection and adequate treatment of hypertension are of great importance as well as elimination of other risk factors.

[Ischemic heart disease in young women. Its importance and possibilities of prevention]. / Ishemijska bolest srca u mladih zena. Vaznost i mogucnost prevencije.

Ischemic heart disease in young women is a rare disease, but nowadays it is more frequently detected. The investigation involved 83 women up to the age of 19 with ischemic heart disease. The most frequent risk factors were as follows: hypertension, hyperlipoproteinaemia, smoking, stress and obesity. The association of three factors was most often observed. Electrocardiogram at rest pointed to the changes as follows: anteroseptal region, the whole anterior wall, postero-inferior region and subendocardial localization. Out of 11 exercise tests 36 (81.81%) of them were positive. Coronary arteriography was performed in 72 (86.71%), with positive changes in 61 (81.72%) patients. Occlusive changes were most frequently found on anterior descendent artery. Since a great number of risk factors in women may be easily corrected by an adequate diet and healthier way of life, their detection and implementation of measures of primary and secondary prevention have been attached a great importance.