Risk Factors Associated with Myocardial Infarction Among Patients at Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago National Referral Hospital in Uganda

Background Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of death globally, with ischemic heart disease (IHD) accounting for 9.1 million deaths in 2019. In Uganda, cardiovascular diseases, including MI, are contributing to an increasing burden on the healthcare system. The prevalence of MI in the country is not well-documented, though reports suggest a growing incidence, particularly in urban areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the factors associated with myocardial infarction at Mulago Heart Institute, Uganda. Method This study utilized data from 615 patients who registered at the Uganda Heart Institute between January 2015 and December 2019. A logistic regression model was employed to identify the factors associated with myocardial infarction. Results 58.6% of the patients had experienced myocardial infarction. Significant factors found to influence the occurrence of myocardial infarction included age over 64 years (OR = 6.369; 95% CI = 2.27–17.08; p = 0.001), female gender (OR = 0.325; 95% CI = 0.13–0.79; p = 0.013), rural residence (OR = 0.114; 95% CI = 0.05–0.24; p = 0.001), obesity (OR = 1.671; 95% CI = 3.77–5.90; p = 0.031), overweight (OR = 0.775; 95% CI = 4.31–7.04; p = 0.025), hypertension (OR = 8.124; 95% CI = 4.05–16.29; p = 0.001), diabetic status (OR = 0.080; 95% CI = 0.04–0.16; p = 0.001), inactive physical activity (OR = 19.486; 95% CI = 1.72–3.53; p = 0.001), tobacco use (OR = 1.608; 95% CI = 4.30–5.24; p = 0.001), and alcohol consumption (OR = 7.073; 95% CI = 0.81–1.61; p = 0.016). High blood pressure was also a significant factor influencing the likelihood of myocardial infarction, with hypertensive patients showing significantly higher odds (OR = 8.124; 95% CI = 4.05–16.29; p = 0.001) compared to those with normal blood pressure. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of addressing these risk factors through public health interventions, particularly focusing on hypertension management, promoting physical activity, and reducing tobacco and alcohol consumption especially in rural area, to mitigate the growing burden of myocardial infarction in Uganda.