Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease remains the most common cause of death despite significant advancement in its prevention and treatment³.Myocardial infarction is facilitated by many risk factors, of which dyslipide MI a is an important factor. In patients with acute myocardial infarction cholesterol levels are no longer valid after 24hrs from presentation because acute MI causes rapid decline in serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional study conducted at the intensive care unit and medical wards of King George hospital, Visakhapatnam from January 2020 to august 2020. A total of 100 patients with confirmed diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction enrolled in the study. Serum levels of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides  on day- 1 post MI and day 4 post MI were determined and cholesterol ratios (total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol/ HDL cholesterol) were calculated.

Results: On day 1 post MI, mean serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides are 190.10+25.75 and124.98+38.35 respectively. On day 4 posts MI, mean serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides are 172.50±27.05 and 43.22±35.64 respectively.  Mean serum total cholesterol levels decreased and mean serum triglyceride levels increased .However cholesterol ratios remain unchanged. On day 1 post MI, total cholesterol /HDL cholesterol ratio and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were 4.30±0.36 and 2.71±0.40 respectively. On day 4 post MI ,total cholesterol /HDL cholesterol ratio and LDL cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio were 4.38±0.36 and 2.69±0.38 respectively ( no significant change).

Conclusion: Acute myocardial infarction significantly reduces the total serum cholesterol levels and increases the serum triglyceride levels. But the acute myocardial infarction has no significant effect on the cholesterol ratios (LDL cholesterol / HDL cholesterol ratios and cholesterol / HDL cholesterol ratio). So after 24 hours of acute myocardial infarction assessment of cholesterol ratios will be more appropriate than assessing total cholesterol levels.