Smoking is a more dangerous risk factor than metabolic syndrome in Egyptian patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

ABSTRACT Background: The effect of metabolic syndrome and other risk factors of myocardial infarction are not consistent in all studies. Aim: To assess the incidence of each risk factor in our community as a predictor of acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Fifty patients (Pts) admitted to the main university hospital with acute MI were studied. All risk factors were recorded as well as echo measurements. Inclusion criteria were: patients diagnosed as acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) based on typical retrosternal chest pain associated with typical electrocardiographic changes of STEMI, with at least one cardiac enzyme assay result above twice the limit of normal. Incident cases of acute STEMI presenting within 24 h of symptoms onset were eligible. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) components were defined as detailed in the ATP III report: 1) waist circumference >102 cm in men and >88 cm in women, 2) fasting triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl. 3) HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl in men and