Identification and Characteristics of Low-Risk Survivors of an Acute Myocardial Infarction

Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of Organic Nitrates in Mortality Reduction Following Acute Myocardial Infarction in Hyperlipidemia Patients: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for cardiac dysfunction, and lipid-lowering therapy with statins reduces symptoms and reduces hospitalization related to left ventricular heart failure. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this study, we aimed to determine the real-world AMI treatment drug combination used in Taiwan by using the NHI database to understand the treatment outcomes of current clinical medications prescribed for hyperlipidemia patients with AMI.

METHODS

Using the NHI Research Database (NHIRD), we conducted a retrospective cohort study that compared different treatments for AMI in hyperlipidemia patients in the period from 2016 to 2018. We compared the survival outcomes between those treated with and without organic nitrates in this cohort.

RESULTS

We determined that most hyperlipidemia patients were aged 61-70 y (29.95-31.46% from 2016 to 2018), and the annual AMI risk in these patients was <1% (0.42-0.68% from 2016 to 2018). The majority of hyperlipidemia patients with AMI were women, and 25.64% were aged 61-70 y. Receiving organic nitrates was associated with lower all-cause mortality rates (HR, 95% CI, p-value = 0.714, 0.674-0.756, p < 0.0001). After multivariate analysis, the overall survival in four groups (beta-blockers, beta-blocker + diuretics, diuretics, and others) receiving an organic nitrate treatment was significantly higher than in the groups that were not treated with organic nitrates (beta-blockers HR = 0.536, beta-blocker + diuretics HR = 0.620, diuretics HR = 0.715, and others HR = 0.690).

CONCLUSIONS

The survival benefit was significantly greater in patients treated with organic nitrates than in those treated without organic nitrates, especially when combined with diuretics. A combination of organic nitrates could be a better treatment option for hyperlipidemia patients with AMI.

Magnitude and Characteristics of Patients Who Survived an Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the magnitude and characteristics of patients who did not experience any significant major adverse cardiovascular event early (within 6 weeks) and late (during the first year) after hospital discharge for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data from 12 243 patients discharged after an AMI from 233 sites across the United States in the TRANSLATE-ACS (Treatment With ADP Receptor Inhibitors: Longitudinal Assessment of Treatment Patterns and Events After Acute Coronary Syndrome) study were analyzed. Multivariable adjusted regression analyses modeled factors associated with 6-week and 1-year survivors who did not experience a recurrent AMI, stroke, unplanned coronary revascularization, or rehospitalization for unstable angina/chest pain during these time periods. The average age of this study population was 60.0 years, 72.0% were men, and 87.9% were white. In this population, 92.4% were classified as early low-risk survivors and 76.3% were classified as late low-risk survivors of an AMI. Factors associated with being an early and late postdischarge survivor included being male and having single-vessel coronary artery disease at the patient's index hospitalization. Patients who were not first seen with any chronic health condition, had an index hospital stay of ≤3 days, and had high baseline quality-of-life scores were more likely to be late low-risk survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Identifying low-risk survivors of an AMI may permit healthcare providers to focus more intensive efforts and interventions on those at higher risk of experiencing adverse cardiovascular events during the postdischarge transition period.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01088503.