Heart Attacks in Young Adults Frequently enough Stem From Unexpected Causes, Mayo Clinic Study Finds
ROCHESTER, MN – A new study published Monday in the Journal of the American Collage of Cardiology reveals that heart attacks in individuals under 65, particularly women, are frequently triggered by factors other than conventional arterial blockages. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic analyzed 15 years of data from the Rochester Epidemiology project, encompassing 1,474 cases, and found a notable divergence in the causes of infarction based on sex.
While atherosclerosis remains the most common cause the study showed that only 47% of women experiencing heart attacks had plaque deposits, compared to 75% of men. Instead, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) – a tear in a coronary artery - was nearly six times more common in women. Stress factors, such as anemia and infections, were also identified as significant contributors, and carried the highest five-year mortality rate at 33%.
“When the real mechanism of the infarction is not correctly identified, the treatments applied can be ineffective or even harmful,” explains Dr. Claire Raphael, a cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. She cautions that treating SCAD with a stent,such as,can actually increase the risk of complications.
The findings underscore the critical importance of accurate diagnosis. Recognizing these atypical causes allows physicians to implement more appropriate treatments and improve long-term recovery outcomes. “Doctors should be more attentive to these mechanisms, and patients ask for clarifications when the symptoms do not match the diagnosis,” adds Dr. Rajiv Gulati,coordinator of the interventional cardiology division at mayo Clinic.
The research highlights a need to broaden the understanding of heart attack causes in younger populations and emphasizes the potential for misdiagnosis when relying solely on the assumption of atherosclerosis.
