Characteristics and risk factors of yemeni patients presenting with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA)

Background: Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary artery (MINOCA) is a syndrome, which requires both clinical documentation of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (abnormal cardiac biomarker, ischemic symptoms, and electrocardiography changes) and detection of nonobstructive coronary arteries. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence of and characteristics of patients with MINOCA in the Yemeni population. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted between January and June 2019 at Al-Thawra Hospital, Sana’a (Yemen), with STEMI diagnosis were enrolled in this study. Demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and coronary angiography characteristics of patients were noted. Results: MINOCA was identified in 63 patients (25%) out of 249 admitted with STEMI diagnosis at Al‑Thawra Hospital. The mean age of MINOCA patients was similar to obstructive coronary group; however, they were more often females and less frequently with diabetes and family history of coronary artery disease. Other risk factors like smoking, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and oral tobacco were similar. Conversely, the percentage of Khat chewers was significantly higher in the MINOCA patients (P < 0.01) as compared to obstructive group. Conclusions: The relatively high incidence of MINOCA in our country and the long list of multiple potential causes of MINOCA should open further working diagnosis after coronary angiography and further efforts for defining the cause of myocardial infarction in each individual patient in Middle East countries