Markers of Poor Prognosis in Non-ST Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes Without Revascularization: A 3-Year Survival Analysis

Introduction: The non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) account for more than 50% of the total number of patients with ACS. The mortality rates after NSTEMI are not significantly different when compared with patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the assessment of clinical, laboratory and instrumental data during hospital stay provide any additional independent information in predicting the 3-year major cardiac events after NSTE-ACS. Methods: We observed 490 consecutive patients, who were admitted to the emergency cardiology department with NSTE-ACS. The patients' baseline characteristics, blood analysis, left ventricle (LV) and renal function data were assessed and analyzed. The median follow‑up time was 36 months. The endpoint was cardiovascular death. Results: The results of our study show that the risk of cardiovascular death during the three years follow-up after multivariate adjustment increases with older age (> 64 years), history of diabetes, prior myocardial infarction and history of angina pectoris, lower ejection fraction (<50%), degree of myocardial hypertrophy (the thickness of the interventricular septum >1.25 mm) of the LV and the degree of diastolic dysfunction (E-wave deceleration time (DT) < 150 ms), silent myocardial ischemia during first 24-hours, high pulse pressure on Day 1 (>49 mm Hg), glucose level > 7.5 mmol/l on admission and moderate kidney dysfunction (CrCl <60 ml/min). Conclusion: In patients with NSTE-ACS, we report the cardiovascular death risk factors within the 3-year follow-up period in the present study. We thus conclude that it is important to identify the patients with high risk of future cardiovascular complications.