PURPOSE: To determine risk factors related to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Brazil. METHODS: Five hundred ninety one patients were selected in 20 medical centers in Brazil, between January/94 and March/95. Two-hundred-ninety-nine patients were cases, and 292 controls with a variety of acute diseases not related to the suspected or known risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. All data were collected through a structured questionnaire filled by the patients. The evaluation of the variables was done through univariate analysis with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The factors related to acute myocardial infarction were respectively to cases and controls: Hypercholesterolemia - 210.93±46.74mg/dl and 185.71±45.45mg/dl, (p=0.000); smoking - 41.69% and 27.20% (p=0.000); hypertension - 52.35% and 20.88% (p=0.000); diabetes - 19.70% and 9.93% (p=0.001); family history - related to the patient's father in 42.14% and 33.22% (p=0.025) and to the mother in 42.14% and 30.82% (p=0.007); socioeconomic level - 88.99% and 60.20% owned house (p=0.002); 44.45% and 33.21% owned car (p=0.010); physical activity - 56.83% and 48.28% had the habit of walking in the year prior to study entry (p=0.029); diet - 38.79% and 28.42% consumed canned food (p=0.013). The mean weight was 72.50±26.89kg and 69±12.26kg (p=0.0271). The mean height was 166.56±8.81cm and 166.66±8.47cm. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the importance of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, overweight and family history as risk factors for acute myocardial infarction. There was a significant relation between socioeconomic level and the prevalence of acute myocardial infarction.
acute myocardial infarction; coronary risk factors; case-control study
