Myocardial infarction in younger women. Associated clinical features and relationship to use of oral contraceptive drugs.

In a study of thromboembolism and oral contraceptive drugs, 136 cases of myocardial infarction in women aged 30 to 44 years were identified, a rare disease in women of this age group. Data from their hospital medical records were compared with those of several other groups, including women without chronic disease admitted for various acute or elective conditions unrelated to thromboembolism, patients with thromboembolic disease other than myocardial infarction, and women queried or examined in the National Health Survey. The following attributes were found to be associated with myocardial infarction in younger women: presence of diabetes; hypertension; history of increased cigarette smoking; and hypercholesterolemia. A history of the use of oral contraceptive drugs was found with greater frequency in cases than in controls. The literature on the possible association of myocardial infarction and the use of oral contraceptives was reviewed.