Prognostic implications of stress hyperglycemia ratio in patients with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries

Abstract

Background The role of stress hyperglycemia in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has long been emphasized. Recently, the stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR), a novel index reflecting an acute glycemia rise, has shown a good predictive value in AMI. However, its prognostic power in myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) remains unclear. Methods In a prospective cohort of 1179 patients with MINOCA, relationships between SHR levels and outcomes were analyzed. SHR was defined as acute-to-chronic glycemic ratio using admission blood glucose (ABG) and glycated hemoglobin. The primary endpoint was defined as major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death, nonfatal MI, stroke, revascularization, and hospitalization for unstable angina or heart failure. Survival analyses and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed. Results Over the median follow-up of 3.5 years, the incidence of MACE markedly increased with higher SHR tertile levels (8.1%, 14.0%, 20.5%; p < 0.001). At multivariable Cox analysis, elevated SHR was independently associated with an increased risk of MACE (HR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.21–4.38, p = 0.011). Patients with rising tertiles of SHR also had a significantly higher risk of MACE (tertile 1 as reference; tertile 2: HR 1.77, 95% CI: 1.14–2.73, p = 0.010; tertile 3: HR 2.64, 95% CI: 1.75–3.98, p < 0.001). SHR remained a robust predictor of MACE in patients with and without diabetes; whereas ABG was no longer associated with the MACE risk in diabetic patients. SHR showed an area under the curve of 0.63 for MACE prediction. By incorporating SHR to TIMI risk score, the combined model further improved the discrimination for MACE. Conclusions The SHR independently confers the cardiovascular risk after MINOCA, and may serve as a better predictor than glycemia at admission alone, particularly in those with diabetes. KEY MESSAGES Stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) is independently associated with the prognosis in a distinct population with myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). SHR is a better predictor of prognosis than admission glycemia alone, especially in diabetic patients with MINOCA. SHR may serve as a prognostic marker for risk stratification as well as a potential target for tailored glucose-lowering treatment in MINOCA.