Alexithymia is a determinant of early death in the long-term course of post-myocardial infarction.

Abstract

Among people with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), high alexithymia was associated with delay to hospital arrival. High alexithymia could be a determinant of early death in the long term after STEMI. People with STEMI who participated in a survey in 2011, was tested about the state of life in 2021. The sample was divided into two cohorts (cut-off: TAS- 20≥61 in 2011). The relationship between possible death occurred and having high alexithymia was calculated by comparing the mortality after 10 years in the two cohorts through the Cox’ proportional hazard model. Status in life was verified on 39.3% of the sample. No differences were found regarding age, sex, high alexithymia between individuals on whom it was possible to verify the state in life and in whose it was not. In 2021, among people having high alexithymia in 2011, a higher risk of early death was found (RR=5.75, CI 95% 1.116-29.637). Significance for public health Among people with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), high alexithymia is associated with delay to hospital arrival. High alexithymia could be a determinant of early death in the long term after STEMI. Although the results of this study are preliminary, they highlight a relevant prognostic factor, alexithymia, in relation to the long-term course of post-myocardial infarction, condition responsible for more than 7 million deaths each year. As known, alexithymia may be improved with adequate interventions of recognized efficacy. This means that a significant proportion of early deaths among people with previous STEMI could be avoided through an adequate intervention on alexithymia.