Acute Heart Failure and Coronary Blood Flow in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Patients Undergoing Primary

Amr Elkammash1, Mohamed Abdelhamid2, Mohamed Sobhy2

  • 1Cardiology, Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, GBR.

Cureus
|January 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Acute heart failure (AHF) in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients increases the risk of no-reflow after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). This occurs independently of coronary thrombus burden, highlighting AHF as a critical factor in STEMI outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology
  • Acute Heart Failure

Background:

  • Acute heart failure (AHF) is linked to poor outcomes in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.
  • Previous studies, like the GRACE registry, indicate higher mortality and readmission rates for STEMI patients with AHF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of AHF on coronary thrombus burden and post-primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) coronary flow in STEMI patients.
  • To determine if AHF is an independent predictor of adverse coronary flow outcomes after PPCI.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 210 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI.
  • Patients were stratified into no heart failure (NHF) and AHF groups based on Killip class.
  • Primary outcome: no-reflow (TIMI flow <3); Secondary outcome: heavy thrombus burden (TIMI grade 4 or 5).

Main Results:

  • The AHF group exhibited a significantly higher incidence of no-reflow post-PPCI compared to the NHF group (25% vs. 8.4%, p=0.019).
  • No significant difference in heavy thrombus burden was observed between the AHF and NHF groups (50% vs. 43.16%, p=0.557).
  • Multivariable analysis identified AHF as an independent predictor of no-reflow (OR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.09-11.83, p=0.035).

Conclusions:

  • AHF at admission is associated with an increased risk of no-reflow following PPCI in STEMI patients.
  • This association persists regardless of the initial coronary thrombus load.
  • AHF is a significant independent predictor of impaired coronary flow post-PPCI in STEMI.