Acute Myocardial Infarction among Urban and Rural Population of Pakistan.

Abstract

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an acute myocardial necrosis that results from the acute
obstruction of the coronary artery. Its symptoms mainly include chest pain or discomfort, with or without dyspnea,
nausea, and diaphoresis. Diagnosis is made by findings on ECG and by raised cardiac biomarkers in blood. AMI is one
of the leading causes of death worldwide
Objective: To determine the frequency of acute myocardial infarction among urban and rural populations and
determine risk factor distribution among them.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Cardiac Complex Emergency department, BVH
Bahawalpur to determine the frequency and risk factors of acute myocardial infarction among urban and rural
populations. A sample of 350 patients visiting the cardiac complex emergency department, was taken using nonprobability
convenient sampling. The sample includes patients from the urban and rural population age group i.e. 20
years-80 years, both males and females, visiting the cardiac complex emergency department, with acute chest pain
and positive ECG findings for AMI. Information was collected through a structured questionnaire.
Results: A total of 350 patients were interviewed, 217 (62%) were from rural areas, and 133 (38%) were from urban
areas. 260 (74.3%) were males, 90 (25.7%) were females. 153 (43.7%) were smokers, 197 (56.3%) were non-smoker.
220 (62.9%) belonged to low socioeconomic class, 130 (37.1%) belonged to middle socioeconomic class.
Conclusion: Most of the AMI patients were old males, poor rural inhabitants, with uncontrolled hypertension, and
smokers. Health education regarding knowledge of the risk factors of AMI is suggested at the population level
specifically in rural areas