Tongxinluo Adjunctive Therapy and 12-Month Cardiovascular Outcomes after ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction:...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Integrative Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
• Optimizing long-term prognosis and reducing complications post-STEMI is crucial.
• Evaluating novel therapeutic strategies, including traditional Chinese medicine, is warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy and safety of Tongxinluo as an adjunctive therapy for STEMI patients.
• To evaluate the medium- and long-term impact of Tongxinluo on cardiovascular outcomes in a real-world setting.
• To determine the effect of Tongxinluo on major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) and STEMI complications.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter prospective cohort study involving 3,198 STEMI patients from 122 centers in China.
• Patients were divided into Tongxinluo exposure (n=1,598) and non-exposure (n=1,600) groups.
• Primary endpoint was MACCEs at 12 months; secondary endpoints included STEMI complications, MACCEs at shorter intervals, and all-cause mortality.

Main Results:

• Tongxinluo significantly reduced 12-month MACCEs (2.5% vs. 6.6%), driven by lower cardiac death and stroke rates.
• A 92% reduction in 30-day STEMI complications, including cardiogenic shock and arrhythmias, was observed.
• All-cause mortality was significantly reduced at 30 days (71%), 6 months (61%), and 12 months (59%) in the Tongxinluo group.

Conclusions:

• Adjunctive Tongxinluo therapy significantly improved 12-month cardiovascular outcomes in STEMI patients.
• The therapy demonstrated a favorable safety profile with reduced severe bleeding risk.
• Integrating traditional Chinese medicine like Tongxinluo with evidence-based STEMI management shows potential benefits.