Long-term survival and functional outcome of unselected patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most effective reperfusion modality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). Data concerning long-term survival and functional outcome are sparse.One thousand consecutive patients treated by emergency PCI were systematically ana-lysed in a single-centre registry. Multivariate predictors of in-hospital mortality, post-discharge mortality and late functional capacity were identified.Follow-up was completed for 978 patients. The median clinical follow-up length was 3.2 years. In-hospital and post-discharge mortality were 7.6% and 7.3%, respectively. Annualised post-discharge mortality remained stable over time at 2% per year. Independent predictors of in-hospital death were cardiogenic shock, TIMI flow3 after PCI, left ventricular ejection fraction40%, age and time to patent artery6 h. Independent predictors of post-discharge mortality were TIMI flow after PCI3, prior MI, elevated glucose levels at admission, and increasing age. In contrast, cardiogenic shock, time to patent artery and left ventricular ejection fraction40% were not independently associated with post-hospital death. At late follow-up, 47% of patients had normal functional capacity and 49.1% were in New York Heart Association functional class II. Predictors of impaired functional capacity at follow-up were age, gender, smoking habits and multivessel coronary disease.Post-discharge mortality after PCI for acute MI was 2% per year. Significant differences exist between predictors of in-hospital and post-discharge mortality. The functional capacity of surviving patients was remarkably good, even when presented in cardiogenic shock.