Analysis of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality analysis for elderly patients with stable coronary heart disease with acute lower respiratory tract infection

Abstract

Objective To investigate the occurrence of recent cardiovascular events (CVEs) for elderly patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) after acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) and to analyze the related clinical risk factors. Methods Total of 210 stable elderly patients with coronary heart disease hospitalized in Wuji County Hospital of Hebei Province from June 2013 to June 2015 were selected. Patients were divided into infection group (110 cases) and control group (100 cases) according to whether associated with acute lower respiratory tract infection. The basic conditions of patents in the two groups were compared and routine examinations (indicators of blood, inflammation and nutrient intake) were performed, respectively. Follow-up was performed in both groups and cardiovascular events (acute heart failure, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome, venous thromboembolism and acute ischemic stroke) were recorded. All the causes of death were compared and the risk factors were investigated. Results Compared with the control group, the follow-up results at the 10th day, 30th day and 60th day showed that the incidence of CVEs of patients in the infection group was 10.00%, 20.00% and 37.27%, respectively, with significant differences (χ2 = 2.34, 3.22, 4.18; P = 0.02, 0.01, 0.04). The all-cause mortality rates of patients in the infection group were 1.82%, 4.55% and 13.64%, which were significantly different compared with the control group (χ2 = 1.86, 2.07, 2.55; P = 0.03, 0.00, 0.03). The RDW of patients in the infection group had a unit of (15.76 ± 1.58)%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group [(13.35 ± 0.96)%], with significant difference (t = 0.25, P = 0.03). The RDW of patients with cardiovascular event was (14.18 ± 1.96)%, which was significantly higher than that of the patients without cardiovascular event [ (13.48 ± 1.02)% ], with significant difference (t = 1.36, P = 0.02). Conclusions Acute respiratory infections in elderly patients with stable coronary heart disease could increase the incidence of CVEs and the incidence of all-cause mortality. Increased RDW, acute lower respiratory tract infection, rapid heart rate and chronic kidney disease were independent predictors of CVEs and all-cause mortality in elderly patients with stable coronary heart disease. Key words: Coronary heart disease; Acute lower respiratory tract infection; Vascular events; Erythrocyte distribution width