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fasting and acute coronary syndromes2
21:46 Posted In A population , acute coronary , based study of , Ramadan fasting and , syndromes Edit ThisRESULTS During the 10 year period, a total of 20 856 patients were admitted to the coronary care unit and cardiology wards; 8446 of them were Qataris and 12 410 were non-Qataris. There was no significant difference among the three periods (one month before, during, and after Ramadan) in regards to the incidence of AMI (123, 142, and 150 patients, respectively, p > 0.05). Furthermore, the clinical characteristics of these patients such as age (61 (12) years, 62 (14) years, and 60 (13) years), sex (male 76.5%, 72.5%, and 73%), smoking status (23%, 20%, and 26%), presence of hypertension (33.5%, 39%, and 38%), hypercholesterolaemia (23.5%, 25%, and 25%), diabetes (58%, 51%, and 53%), prior AMI (15%, 19%, and 19%), and prior coronary artery bypass grafting (3.2%, 3.5%, and 3%) were not significantly different. Patients who were admitted after Ramadan were more likely to smoke more packets per day of cigarettes when compared to the other two time periods (0.84, 0.91, and 1.32 packets, respectively, p <> No significant differences were found among patients admitted with UA in the three periods (160, 146, and 147 patients, respectively, p > 0.05). Clinical characteristics of these patients such as age (60 (12) years, 60 (12) years, and 59 (12) years), sex (male 58.8%, 50.0%, and 60%), smoking (17.8%, 9.6%, and 19.2%), presence of hypertension (49%, 54%, and 48%), hypercholesterolaemia (27%, 27%, and 23%), diabetes (51%, 56%, and 59%), and pre-existing cardiac disease were also not significantly different. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in thrombolysis administration (27%, 25%, and 27%), death (9%, 10.4%, and 10.7%), bleeding (0.3%, 0%, and 0.3%) or stroke (0.3%, 0.7%, and 1%) among patients in the three periods. | ||
DISCUSSION In this population based study, we found no significant differences in the incidence of AMI or UA during Ramadan when compared to the rest of the year. Previous studies documented an association between Ramadan fasting and biochemical and hormonal changes. Several investigators reported changes in lipid profile; however, these results were based on a small number of patients and were contradictory.1 Fasting has been associated with variations in the incidence of some diseases, however, the incidence of stroke in Ramadan was not significantly different from the rest of the year.2 Despite the fact that fasting during Ramadan is practised by more than a billion Muslim people worldwide, data on the incidence of cardiac diseases are sparse. There are only two reported studies on the incidence of ACS during Ramadan.3,4 Gumaa and colleagues,4 reported an increase in complaints of angina during Ramadan. More recently, Temizhan and colleagues3 reported no significant differences in the incidence of ACS during Ramadan when compared to one month before and after Ramadan in 1655 patients. However, this study had many limitations including the fact that it was not population based, only included a small number of patients, and did not define the exact number of patients with ACS who were actually fasting. The last point is particularly important, considering the patients were from a community where more than 35% of the population do not regularly fast during Ramadan.4 The current study extends the findings of Temizhan and colleagues3 in a more defined population where more than 95% of the population regularly fast. Furthermore, it describes for the first time complete clinical characteristics, mode of treatment, and outcome of patients with ACS. In conclusion, we speculate that Ramadan fasting does not increase ACS. | ||
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