Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) has an adverse impact on short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aims of the present study were to determine independent predictors for the occurrence of AHF during hospitalization and to assess the impact of AHF on 30-day and 1-year outcomes in patients with STEMI who were successfully treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).
Methods and results: The study included 1,074 consecutive patients with STEMI who had no signs of heart failure (HF) at admission (Killip class I) and were treated with successful pPCI. Successful PPCI was defined as postprocedural TIMI 3 grade flow. Acute HF developed in 11.1% patients during hospitalization, which was predominantly mild to moderate (Killip classes II and III). Independent predictors for the occurrence of AHF were: anterior infarction, peak creatinine-kinase (CK) > 2,000 U/L and 3-vessel coronary disease. 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were significantly higher in patients with AHF compared to patients without AHF. AHF during hospitalization was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 10.5) and 1-year mortality (HR 4.4).
Conclusion: Even after successful pPCI, the occurrence of AHF during hospitalization remains an independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year mortality.