Ramadan and Coronary Artery Disease A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Ramadan fasting is a religious obligation for Muslims, and data on the effects of fasting on cardiovascular disease are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Moroccan patients during Ramadan. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study including 267 patients admitted in cardiac intensive unit care  for three months each year from 2020 to 2022:  during the holy month of Ramadan, the month before and the month after. We established a comparison between the three periods. Results: A total of 267 patients were included in our study. The mean age of our patients was 62 +/- 12 years, predominately male with a sex ratio (h/f) of 2.03. The prevalence of ACS was 16% during Ramadan, 19.5% in the month before Ramadan, and 24% in the month after Ramadan. There was no significant association between Ramadan and an increase in acute coronary syndromes, but there was a significant association between delay in visits and more severe clinical presentation and coronary artery disease. Conclusions:  Compared with the month before and after, Ramadan was characterized by a lower incidence of ACS, but more severe clinical manifestations, with the most severe coronary artery disease.