Cardiovascular risk in post-myocardial infarction patients: nationwide real world data demonstrate the importance of a long-term perspective

This registry study showed 18.3% of patients with MI had a recurrent MI, stroke, or cardiovascular death in the first year after the index event.
Those who remained stable for the first year were still at high risk, with one in five experiencing an event during subsequent years.
First published online: 13 January 2015: EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL

Abstract
Aims Long-term disease progression following myocardial infarction (MI) is not well understood. We examined the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in patients discharged after MI in Sweden.

Methods and results

This was a retrospective, cohort study linking morbidity, mortality, and medication data from Swedish national registries. Of 108 315 patients admitted to hospital with a primary MI between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2011 (index MI), 97 254 (89.8%) were alive 1 week after discharge and included in this study.

The primary composite endpoint of risk for non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke, or cardiovascular death was estimated for the first 365 days post-index MI and Day 366 to study completion.

Risk and risk factors were assessed by Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards modelling, respectively.

Composite endpoint risk was 18.3% during the first 365 days post-index MI. Age [60–69 vs. <60 years: HR (95% CI): 1.37 (1.30–1.45); 70–79 vs. <60 years: 2.13 (2.03–2.24); >80 vs. <60 years: 3.96 (3.78–4.15)],
prior MI [1.44 (1.40–1.49)], stroke [1.49 (1.44–1.54)], diabetes [1.37 (1.34–1.40)], heart failure [1.57 (1.53–1.62)] and no index MI revascularisation [1.88 (1.83–1.93)] were each independently associated with a higher risk of ischaemic events or death. For patients without a combined endpoint event during the first 365 days, composite endpoint risk was 20.0% in the following 36 months.

]Conclusions
Risk of cardiovascular events appeared high beyond the first year post-MI, indicating a need for prolonged surveillance, particularly in patients with additional risk factors.

G MOHAN.