Differences in Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Outcomes of Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Emiratis and Expatriates: Data from the Gulf Region

Abstract

This retrospective, single-center cohort study included all consecutive patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction between 2013 and 2018. A total of 2,975 patients were analyzed (mean age: 51.6 years; 92.3% were male). Emirati patients comprised 10.3% of the cohort and were significantly older than expatriates (62.4 vs 50.3 years; P < .001), with a higher proportion of females (28.0% vs 5.3%; P < .001). Emiratis had a greater prevalence of diabetes mellitus (55.4% vs 42.6%), hypertension (59.9% vs 36.2%), and prior myocardial infarction (all P < .001). Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction was more common among Emiratis (P < .001), whereas smoking was more prevalent among expatriates (P < .001). In-hospital mortality was higher among Emiratis compared with expatriates (4.9% vs 2.3%; P = .006), as was the incidence of heart failure (12.7% vs 6.1%; P < .001). However, after multivariable adjustment, Emirati nationality was not independently associated with in-hospital adverse outcomes. Although trends indicated an increased risk for death (Adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.71-2.70; P = .335), cardiogenic shock (aOR: 1.85, 95% CI: 0.92-3.70; P = .082), cardiac arrest (aOR: 1.55, 95% CI: 0.80-3.00; P = .196), and heart failure (aOR: 1.50, 95% CI: 0.98-2.29; P = .063) among Emiratis, none of these associations achieved statistical significance.