Serum total, LDL, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides related to age, gender and cigarette smoking in patients with first acute myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to examine relationships between total cholesterol, LDL, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and age, gender, and cigarette smoking in 190 patients (132 men and 58 women) aged 34-87 years with first AMI. The control group included 103 patients (57 men and 46 women) aged 29-90 years without a history of angina pectoris or AMI. High total cholesterol (over 5.2 mmol/L) was observed in 75% of patients with AMI vs. 48% of patients in the control group (p < 0.001). Patients with AMI had significantly higher total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels than controls (p < 0.0001). HDL cholesterol levels were significantly lower among patients with AMI than among the control group patients (p < 0.0001). Serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol is higher in patients with AMI up to 60 years old, but lower in patients older than 60 years. Women aged less than 50 years had significantly higher HDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), lower LDL cholesterol (p < 0.001), and lower total cholesterol (p < 0.05) than those over 50 years. Smokers with AMI who smoked over 20 cigarettes per day had significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels than the non-smokers (p < 0.05). These findings suggest important influences of hyperlipoproteinemia and cigarette smoking upon development of myocardial infarction, especially in younger patients.