Age- and sex-related difference in lipid profiles of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in East China

►AMI patients had age- and sex-related difference in lipid profiles.►Dyslipidemia was more prevalent and severe among the nonelderly than the elderly.►Perimenopausal women were prone to higher levels of LDL than men.►Isolated low HDL was the most prevalent combined dyslipidemia for the elderly and the male nonelderly patients with AMI.

BackgroundIt was not understood whether age- and sex-related differences were apparent in lipid profiles among acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients in China.ObjectivesTo investigate lipid abnormalities in such AMI patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 1213 patients hospitalized with a first AMI between May 2007 and July 2011.ResultsOur data indicated that, compared with the elderly, the nonelderly tended to have higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), total cholesterol (TC), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (N-HDL) for both males and females. There was significant difference in LDL among various age groups (P < .001): LDL levels in the 50-59 and 60-69 year age groups were higher than those in 70-79 and 80-89 year age groups. Compared with males, females tended to have higher LDL in both the 50-59 and 60-69 year age groups. There was no difference in HDL among various age groups for female AMI patients, but there was significance for males. Compared with males, females had higher HDL in 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 year age groups, respectively. Among various age groups, there was significant difference in triglycerides (TG) for male AMI patients, but no difference in TG for females. The levels of TG were higher in 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 year age groups than those in 70-79, 80-89, and ≥90 year age groups, respectively, for males. Isolated low HDL (low HDL + normal LDL + normal TG) was the most common type of combined dyslipidemia for male elderly (31.4%), male nonelderly (22.9%), and female elderly (19.2%) patients.ConclusionWe concluded that there was age- and sex-related difference in lipid profiles among AMI patients, with more prevalent dyslipidemia in the nonelderly than the elderly. Perimenopausal women were prone to higher LDL, and low HDL was prevalent among AMI patients in East China.