BACKGROUND:

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) represents a substantial public health challenge in Brazil. Modifiable risk factors are pivotal in its incidence, yet large-scale data is sparse for crafting effective interventions to mitigate the leading cause of mortality.

purpose:

To elucidate the prevalence of classic modifiable risk factors in ACS hospitalizations at a premier Brazilian public cardiology.institution.

METHODS:

This investigation harnessed the ACS registry data from a prominent high-complexity cardiology reference center in Brazil. The study spanned from July 2018 to October 2022, encompassing patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes. The focus was on the prevalence of modifiable risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, overweight/obesity) in patients with verified ACS diagnoses, ascertained via self-reporting or at admission.

RESULTS:

Of 143,352 patients evaluated in the emergency department, 19,752 required admission, with 5,580 confirmed ACS cases (28.2%). ACS presentations were unstable angina (56.0%), NSTEMI (34.8%), and STEMI (9.2%). The mean age was 63 years, with females constituting 35.9%. A staggering 99.3% displayed sedentary lifestyles, 80.4% had hypertension, 72.5% were overweight/obese, 56.6% had diabetes, 53.5% had dyslipidemia, and 20.6% were smokers.

CONCLUSION:

The study underscores a critical prevalence of modifiable risk factors in ACS admissions. These findings underscore the critical need for aggressive public health strategies and lifestyle interventions to tackle the modifiable risks associated with ACS in Brazil.