RESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease continues to be the main cause of mortality, but few data are available in the young population. The aim of our study was to know the incidence and clinical characteristics of premature cardiovascular disease in our health area. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of patients admitted for acute episode of premature cardiovascular disease in a referral hospital during 2018. RESULTS: We detected 367 subjects: 306 (83.4%) with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Almost half (164, 44.7%) were diabetic, with primary hypercholesterolaemia or high cardiovascular risk, and 84 (22.9%) had a personal history of cardiovascular disease. Among those with elevated risk or history (nâ¯=â¯207) only 47 subjects had LDL cholesterol at therapeutic target. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the subjects with premature cardiovascular disease in our study had higher cardiovascular risk than attributable to their age. Intensive diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors may prevent cardiovascular disease in young adults.