AMI: anaemia at admission linked to increased mortality risk

Takeaway

• In patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), both mild and moderate to severe anaemia at admission was found to be significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality risk.

Why this matters

• Severe anaemia is a common condition seen in hospitalised patients and has been identified as a predictor of adverse outcomes.

Study design

• Prospective study of 2011 patients hospitalised for AMI selected from the MONICA/KORA myocardial infarction registry between January 2005 and December 2008.
• Patients’ Hb levels were assessed at admission, and they were followed up until December 2011.
• Funding: German Federal Ministry of Health.

Key results

• Overall, 283 patients were reported to be anaemic (mild, n=183; moderate to severe, n=100) and 1728 patients did not have anaemia.
• During the median follow-up period of 4.2 years, mortality was seen in 241 patients (12%).
• Patients in the moderate to severe anaemia group had a higher incidence of mortality (n=37; 37%) vs patients in the mild anaemia group (n=48; 26.2%).
• Mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with moderate to severe anaemia (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.37-3.05) as well as mild anaemia (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.23-2.45) vs patients without anaemia.

Limitations

• Data on cancer or other chronic diseases which could affect post-AMI survival was unavailable.
• Risk for bias.