Prognostic value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction undergoing primary

Mehmet G Kaya1, Mahmut Akpek, Yat Yin Lam

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.

Insights

The pre-procedural neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (N/L) independently predicts adverse cardiac events in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary PCI. This readily available marker can enhance risk assessment for STEMI outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Risk Assessment

Background:

  • The prognostic value of the pre-procedural neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (N/L) ratio in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires further investigation.
  • Existing research suggests an association between N/L ratio and adverse outcomes in coronary artery disease, but specific data for STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between the pre-procedural N/L ratio and both in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes in STEMI patients.
  • To determine if the N/L ratio can serve as an independent predictor of cardiac events in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 682 STEMI patients presenting within 6 hours of symptom onset were enrolled.
  • Patients were stratified into tertiles based on their pre-procedural N/L ratio, determined from blood samples drawn upon emergency room admission.
  • Outcomes were assessed during hospitalization and over a mean follow-up period of 43.3 months.

Main Results:

  • Higher N/L ratio tertiles were significantly associated with increased rates of in-hospital and long-term in-stent thrombosis, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality.
  • The N/L ratio was identified as an independent predictor for both in-hospital and long-term major adverse cardiac events on multivariate analysis.
  • Specific independent predictive values were noted: OR 1.189 for in-hospital events (p<0.001) and OR 1.228 for long-term events (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

  • The pre-procedural N/L ratio is a significant independent predictor of adverse in-hospital and long-term outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.
  • The N/L ratio, being an inexpensive and universally available hematological marker, holds potential for integration into existing risk stratification models for STEMI.
  • This finding underscores the utility of simple hematological parameters in predicting cardiovascular events.
Abstract