Prediction of Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality After Myocardial Infarction in US Veterans

Risk prediction models for cardiovascular disease (CVD) death developed from patients without vascular disease may not be suitable for myocardial infarction (MI) survivors. Prediction of mortality risk after MI may help to guide secondary prevention. Using national electronic record data from the Veterans Health Administration 2002 to 2012, we developed risk prediction models for CVD death and all-cause death based on 5-year follow-up data of 100,601 survivors of MI using Cox proportional hazards models. Model performance was evaluated using a cross-validation approach. During follow-up, there were 31,622 deaths and 12,901 CVD deaths. In men, older age, current smoking, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, and lower body mass index were associated with greater risk of death from CVD or all-causes, and statin treatment, hypertension medication, estimated glomerular filtration rate level, and high body mass index were significantly associated with reduced risk of fatal outcomes. Similar associations and slightly different predictors were observed in women. The estimated Harrell's C-statistics of the final model versus the cross-validation estimates were 0.77 versus 0.77 in men and 0.81 versus 0.77 in women for CVD death. Similarly, the C-statistics were 0.75 versus 0.75 in men, 0.78 versus 0.75 in women for all-cause mortality. The predicted risk of death was well calibrated compared with the observed risk. In conclusion, we developed and internally validated risk prediction models of 5-year risk for CVD and all-cause death for outpatient survivors of MI. Traditional risk factors, co-morbidities, and lack of blood pressure or lipid treatment were all associated with greater risk of CVD and all-cause mortality.