Prevalence Of Myocardial Infarction With Non-Obstructive Coronary Arteries In Western Nepal

Background and Aims: It is well known that ST segment elevation myocardial infarction results from complete occlusion of a coronary artery supplying that area. However, in up to 15% of patients with clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, early angiography reveal either non-obstructive or normal coronary artery. This subgroup of disease, myocardial infarction (MI) with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA), represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to clinicians. We aimed to determine prevalence and clinical profile of patients with MINOCA in current study.Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study conducted in cardiology department of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal from 6th April 2014 to 5th April 2019. Patients with age >= 18 years and clinically diagnosed acute myocardial infarction who underwent coronary angiography without prior use of thrombolytic agents were selected. Data were analyzed using the software SPSS for windows version 18.Results: A total of 177 patients' underwent early coronary angiography without prior use of thrombolytic agent. The prevalence of MINOCA was 13.5% (n=24) in our study population. MINOCA patients were younger (p<0.001) compared to non-MINOCA. Smoking, systemic hypertension, access through femoral route and depressed left ventricular ejection fraction were significantly lower in MINOCA patients (p<0.05, for all).Conclusion: The prevalence of MINOCA was high (13.5%) in our study. Prospective studies are needed to conclude its high prevalence and to look for other associated factors and etiology.