Risk of mortality and other adverse outcomes from myocardial infarction in cancer survivors: a meta-analysis

Myocardial infarction (MI) is an acute cardiovascular disease that can increase prognosis risks such as arrhythmia, heart failure, shock, etc. Studies have found that even well-controlled coexistence of cancer could affect the quality of life in MI patients. However, the prognostic impact of cancer on MI patients is controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the influence of cancer on the risk of future all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in MI patients.

The Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane libraries were searched for cohort studies and case-control from inception to May 2022. The quality of the included pieces of literature was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS). All statistical analyses were performed using Stata statistical software versions 14.0 and 16.0. Sensitivity analysis assessed the robustness of the results, and funnel plots and Egger's tests evaluated the publication bias.

A total of 10 studies were included, covering 7,210,530 participants. Summary analyses show that compared with non-cancer patients, cancer increased the risk of long-term all-cause mortality in MI patients (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.36-1.84, I² = 94.2%). However, no significant difference was observed in the risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.91-1.54, I² = 52.4%) or MACCE (HR 1.26, 95% CI 0.94-1.70, I² = 99.2%). In subgroup analysis, cancer was associated with the risk of recurrent MI (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.03-1.34, I² = 88.8%), and major bleeding (HR 2.01, 95% CI 1.60-2.52, I² = 93.1%), with no significant difference in the risk of stroke (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.97-1.27, I² = 85.1%).

This meta-analysis shows that cancer increases the risk of all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, and major bleeding in MI patients but is not associated with the risk of cardiovascular death. Therefore, comprehensive multidisciplinary management and monitoring of potential future adverse events in MI patients with cancer are needed.

The meta-analysis was registered in the International Register of Prospective Systematic Reviews (NO. CRD42022332775).