Prognosis and high-risk complication identification in unselected patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in unselected patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We registered complication and mortality rates in all patients with STEMI admitted for primary PCI at a high-volume center over a two-year period (2004 to 2006). We included 1022 consecutive patients (mean age 64 years; 69% men). In-hospital and one-year mortality were 8% and 12%, respectively. Cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular ejection fraction <or=40% and atrioventricular block significantly predicted increased one-year mortality in univariate analysis (P < 0.001 for all) and were considered high-risk complications. 65% of patients had no high-risk complications. One-year mortality for patients without high-risk complications was 4% compared with 28% for those with high-risk complications (P < 0.001). Unselected patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI have mortality rates corresponding to those reported in randomized clinical studies including transport of patients. Mortality is strongly related to high-risk complications developed during admission. Thus, patients with high-risk complications should receive special attention. The majority of patients (65%) without high-risk complications have an excellent short- and long-term prognosis following primary PCI.