Abstract
Objective: We investigated the risk factors before the onset of new myocardial infarction (MI) with abnormal Q waves and sudden cardiac death (SCD) cases detected in multiple medical checkups.
Methods: From April 2018 to March 2021, 10,487 participants (7,242 males and 3,245 females) who underwent complete medical checkups had abnormal Q waves with negative T waves recorded on their electrocardiograms (ECGs). Of the 78 cases, 11 cases of new MI (10 males, 1 female, mean age; 62 years) and one case of SCD were confirmed based on chronological records over the previous 3 years. Risk factors before the onset were investigated in four cases of new MI (3 males, 1 female, mean age; 69 years) and one case of SCD in whom ECG asynchronous chest computed tomography (CT) was performed before the onset.
Results: Before the onset of MI, history of treatment (7 with hypertension, 7 with diabetes), systolic blood pressure 145 ± 10 mmHg, LDL-C 143 ± 35 mg/dL, and the Suita predictive index (Suita score was 55.5±6.5, 10-year probability of developing coronary artery disease was 8.1±4.5) were determined. Increased brightness (calcification) was observed in the coronary artery area related to the estimated MI site. In the case of SCD, the LDL-C level was 188 mg/dL and no treatment was performed.
Conclusions: Patients with MI and SCD had high blood pressure, DM, and LDL-C (some were untreated), and chest CT showed calcified lesions in the coronary arteries.
