Clinical Characteristics and Burden of Risk Factors Among Patients With Early Onset Acute Coronary Syndromes: The ANZACS-QI New Zealand National Cohort (ANZACS-QI 17)

Background Cardiovascular (CV) risk factor profiles of people experiencing acute coronary syndromes (ACS) vary with age, and in New Zealand (NZ), Māori and people of Pacific Island descent typically present with ACS at a younger age. We aimed to explore age- and ethnicity-related differences in CV risk factors in a large NZ cohort with first-time ACS. Methods The All NZ Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement program (ANZACS-QI) registry collects comprehensive data for patients admitted with ACS at NZ hospitals. This analysis includes patients with no prior atherosclerotic CV disease enrolled from 1 July, 2012 to 30 June, 2015. Results 14,190 patients had confirmed ACS, 8493 (60%) patients with no prior CVD comprised the study cohort. The mean age was 64 years, 25% were aged 2 ), and higher total cholesterol:HDL ratios (≥4.0, 70% vs 50%), all p 2 (67%) and higher median HbA1c than older patients with diabetes (69mmol/mol vs 55mmol/mol). Māori and people of Pacific Island descent were overrepresented in the younger age group; these patients had a very high risk factor burden. Conclusions A quarter of NZ patients admitted to hospital with a first-time CV disease event are aged 2 , and 16% have diabetes.