The Influence of Gender, Smoking and Family Story of Coronary Heart Disease on the Age of Appearance of the First Myocardial Infarction

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Abstract

Background Coronary risk factors exert a different influence in both men and women. This study was conducted to asses the role of gender, smoking habits and family history of coronary heart disease on the age of appearance of the first myocardial infarction. Method The clinical records of 771 patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit between 1981 and 1993 with a first myocardial infarction were reviewed. Ex-smokers were defined as those who withhold the habit the last year. Sudden death or MI in parents or siblings before age 55, was taken as a family history of coronary heart disease. ANOVA was used to analyze data and the association of two variables was examined using lineal regression analysis. Results The number of cigarettes smoked daily correlates negatively with the age of appearance of the first MI: r = -0.19 in men and -0.27 in women. Compared with nonsmokers, smoking 15 cigarettes/day anticipates the appearance of MI in males and females by 9.57 and 15.48 years respectively. While a positive family history had no significant influence on males, it anticipates the age of presentation or the first MI in women by 8.4 years. Conclusions Smoking lead women to loose their natural protection and then to have their first MI at a similar age of man. This study shows for the first time, the negative effect of a family history of coronary heart disease on the course of the ailment in women and therefore points to a positively identifiable target where protective measures can be exerted.