MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION MORTALITY AND MORBIDITY: A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON OF COMPLICATIONS BETWEEN HIGH AND SEA LEVEL ALTITUDES

Background: The leading cause of mortality in myocardial infarction is cardiogenic shock as a complication in the absence of appropriate care with a mortality rate of 70-90%. Objectives: Our aim is to compare complications between high and sea level altitude and to study its relation to risk factors of myocardial infarction. Materials and Methods: a retrospective comparison study. We recruited a data of 190 samples from mortality records from both Jeddah (sea level altitude) and Taif (high altitude).  Results: Jeddah was significantly lower in mean age (64.4±13.5 vs 71.9±15.1, p value< 0.05). ST- elevation myocardial infarction was the highest among ECG changes in both cities (71.8% in Jeddah and 92% in Taif) which were mostly in the anterior side (45.1% in Jeddah and 40.9% in Taif). In complications, arrhythmia was significantly higher in Taif, however, Cardiogenic shock was significantly higher in Jeddah with a significant relation to diabetes only and to diabetes with hypertension as risk factors.  Conclusion: The mean age was significantly higher in Taif (high altitude). Cardiogenic shock was higher in Jeddah as a complication of MI with a significant relation to DM only and to DM with HTN, however, arrhythmia was significantly higher in Taif.

Keywords: comparison, mortality, myocardial infarction, complications, altitude.