J Am Heart Assoc

Young women face higher risk after first MI, new national analysis finds

February 27, 2026

A national analysis of 945,977 first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) hospitalizations in U.S. adults aged 18 to 54 found that adjusted in‑hospital mortality increased for first STEMI from 2011 to 2022, while mortality for first NSTEMI was unchanged. Across both subtypes, young women had higher in‑hospital mortality than young men (STEMI: 3.1% vs. 2.6%; NSTEMI: 1.0% vs. 0.8%) and received fewer cardiovascular procedures despite similar complication rates. Nontraditional risk factors, such as low income, kidney disease, and non‑tobacco drug use, were more strongly associated with mortality than traditional factors in both sexes.

Clinical takeaway: For young adults with first AMI—especially women—ensure equitable use of guideline‑directed procedures, and systematically screen and manage nontraditional risk factors to reduce in‑hospital mortality.

Source:

Satish M, et al. (2026, February 26). J Am Heart Assoc. Sex Differences in Outcomes of Young Adults Hospitalized With First Myocardial Infarction From 2011 to 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41744115/