10-Year Mortality After ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Compared to the General Population

Pernille Gro Thrane1, Kevin Kris Warnakula Olesen1, Troels Thim1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Insights

Patients surviving ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) have only a 2% excess mortality over 10 years. This indicates favorable long-term outcomes for STEMI survivors with optimal treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a critical condition with significant early mortality.
  • Long-term survival and excess mortality in STEMI patients after initial treatment remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term excess mortality in STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
  • To compare mortality rates at landmark periods (0-30 days, 31-90 days, 91 days to 10 years) against an age- and sex-matched general population.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Western Denmark Heart Registry to identify 18,818 first-time STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI (2003-2018).
  • Matched each STEMI patient with 5 individuals from the general population based on age and sex.
  • Analyzed mortality data at 0-30 days, 31-90 days, and 91 days to 10 years post-PCI.

Main Results:

  • STEMI was associated with a 5.9% excess mortality in the first 30 days and 0.9% from 31-90 days.
  • In STEMI survivors at 90 days, the 10-year excess mortality was only 2.1 percentage points (26.5% vs. 24.5%).
  • High adherence to secondary preventive medications (statins, antiplatelet therapy, beta-blockers) was observed throughout the follow-up period.

Conclusions:

  • STEMI patients treated with primary PCI who survive the initial 90 days experience only a modest increase in long-term mortality.
  • The 10-year excess mortality for these survivors is approximately 2% compared to the general population.
  • High utilization of guideline-recommended secondary preventive therapies contributes to favorable long-term outcomes in STEMI survivors.
Abstract