Impact of fasting on the presentation and outcome of myocardial infarction during the month of Ramadan

Fasting is practiced by millions of Muslims during the month of Ramadan. The available data show that the incidence of acute coronary syndromes during or outside the month of Ramadan is similar. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fasting on acute myocardial infarction. We conducted a chart review to look retrospectively at the effect of fasting on outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in 78 patients (40 patients in the fasting group and 38 patients in the non-fasting group). We found a non-significant difference favoring the fasting state in the degree of elevation of troponin and creatine phosphokinase, but a statistically significant difference favoring the fasting group in the duration of hospital stay after acute myocardial infarction (7.1±4.3 <em>vs</em> 9.8±5.3 days; P=0.015). In conclusion, fasting may have a cardio-protective effect on patients with acute myocardial infarction and is associated with shorter hospital stay