Heart trouble has long been associated with old age. Yet behind that assumption, a quieter shift has been unfolding in hospitals across the United States.
New research suggests that adults under 55 are facing a growing threat after a first heart attack, and women appear to be at particular risk.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, led by Dr. Mohan Satish of New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, reviewed nearly one million first-time hospitalizations between 2011 and 2022.
A worrying trend
After adjusting for patient and hospital factors, researchers identified a 1.2% absolute rise in in-hospital deaths among patients with the most severe type of heart attack, known as STEMI. Mortality linked to the less severe NSTEMI subtype remained largely stable.
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Women were more likely than men to die during hospitalization. Among STEMI cases, 3.1% of women died compared with 2.6% of men. In NSTEMI cases, 1% of women died versus less than 1% of men.
Unequal outcomes
Although complication rates were broadly similar, women were less likely to undergo certain cardiovascular procedures. The analysis also found that younger women more frequently had nontraditional risk factors.
Key contributors linked to higher in-hospital death included:
- Low income
- Kidney disease
- Non-tobacco drug use
These factors showed a stronger association with mortality than traditional risks such as smoking or high blood pressure.
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The authors noted limitations, including reliance on administrative hospital data and no follow-up beyond discharge.
The findings appear in a special Go Red for Women issue highlighting cardiovascular disease in women.
Sources: American Heart Association and News Medical
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