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Unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is an MI that remains undetected in the acute phase and is associated with an unfavourable prognosis. With this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the burden of cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with unrecognized MI. We searched general population-based cohort studies diagnosing unrecognized MI by electrocardiogram or myocardial imaging up to 24 November 2023. Pooled mean differences (MDs) or risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined, and random-effects meta-analyses were performed. Fourteen cohort studies were included involving 200 450 individuals (mean age 62.8 ± 9.9 years, 56.0% women), among which 4322 (2.2%) experienced unrecognized MI (mean age 66.3 ± 8.2 years, 47.8% women) and 4653 (2.1%) recognized MI (mean age 68.5 ± 7.3 years, 33.8% women). Compared to individuals without MI, those with unrecognized MI had higher body mass index (MD 0.27, 95% CI 0.16–0.39) and systolic blood pressure (MD 4.48, 95% CI 2.81–6.15) levels, and higher prevalence of hypertension (RR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06–1.51) and diabetes mellitus (RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.36–2.06). Furthermore, individuals with unrecognized MI had lower prevalence of hypertension (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.88–0.97) and diabetes mellitus (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.70–0.92). Individuals with unrecognized MI are characterized by a substantial burden of metabolic risk factors. Our findings suggest insufficient recognition and management of cardiovascular risk factors among individuals with unrecognized MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the challenges in identifying vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques that can cause myocardial infarctions. The concept of the "vulnerable plaque" originated in the 1980s and refers to plaque rupture and plaque erosion as the main mechanisms of myocardial infarction. The authors propose using plasma cell-free DNA methylation as a potential non-invasive biomarker to detect plaque-specific methylation signatures in patients at risk for myocardial infarction. They aim to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay to quantify DNA methylation and assess its performance compared to whole genome methylation sequencing. The successful implementation of a plaque biomarker could greatly impact healthcare by enabling targeted detection of dangerous plaques in both men and women. [Extracted from the article]