Background: Various inhaled bronchodilators have been associated with cardiovascular safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the safety of COPD medications in patients after their first acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Methods: This nationwide cohort study was conducted using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients hospitalized between 2000 and 2012 with a primary diagnosis of first AMI were included and divided into three cohorts (AMI, ST-elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI], and non-STEMI [NSTEMI]). Each cohort was propensity score matched (1:1) with patients without COPD. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% CIs.
Results: A total of 186 112 patients with AMI were enrolled, and COPD was diagnosed in 13 065 (7%) patients. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with COPD had a higher mortality risk than those without COPD in all cohorts (AMI, STEMI, and NSTEMI). The HR of mortality in AMI, STEMI, and NSTEMI patients with COPD was 1.12 (95% CI, 1.09-1.14), 1.20 (95% CI, 1.14-1.25), and 1.07 (95% CI, 1.04-1.10), respectively. Short-acting inhaled bronchodilators and corticosteroids increased mortality risk in all three cohorts. However, long-acting inhaled bronchodilators reduced mortality risk in patients with AMI (long-acting beta-agonist [LABA]: HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.94; long-acting muscarinic antagonist [LAMA]: HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.69-0.96) and NSTEMI (LABA: HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.83-0.97; LAMA: HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68-0.96).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that AMI patients with COPD had higher mortality rates than those without COPD. Using inhaled short-acting bronchodilators and corticosteroids reduced survival, whereas long-acting bronchodilators provided survival benefits in AMI and NSTEMI patients. Therefore, appropriate COPD medication for acute AMI is crucial.
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