OBJECTIVE: To correlate early and late mortality with markers of reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Early reperfusion improves STEMI outcomes. Reperfusion can be assessed using angiographic (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow grade or myocardial blush grade [MBG]) or electrocardiographic markers (ST-segment recovery (STR). METHODS: We searched electronic databases for all STEMI randomized clinical studies from the last decade reporting markers of reperfusion and clinical outcome. We used a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model with logistic regression link in order to assess the correlation between each marker of reperfusion and mortality at 30 and 365 days. We also performed random effect meta-analysis for selected studies comparing mortality for specific categories of MBG. RESULTS: We identified 44 studies with 19,955 patients. Final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 87%, 70% had MBG 2 or 3, and 66% had complete STR. Average 30-day and 1-year mortality was 2.97 ± 2.34% and 4.11 ± 2.52%, respectively. Adjusting (study level) for age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, infarct location, ejection fraction, and female sex, there was significant correlation between each of the three markers and 1-year mortality (P=.03 for TIMI 3; P=.02 for MBG 2 or 3; and P=.04 for STR). In nearly 6000 patients, there was substantial excess mortality in those with MBG 0/1 compared with MBG 2/3 (relative risk = 2.14 [1.65-2.77] with P<.001 at 30 days; relative risk = 1.49 [1.3-1.7] and P<.001 at 1 year). CONCLUSION: After correcting for clinical factors known to affect outcome, there was a significant correlation between survival and better reperfusion.
OBJECTIVE: To correlate early and late mortality with markers of reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). BACKGROUND: Early reperfusion improves STEMI outcomes. Reperfusion can be assessed using angiographic (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow grade or myocardial blush grade [MBG]) or electrocardiographic markers (ST-segment recovery (STR). METHODS: We searched electronic databases for all STEMI randomized clinical studies from the last decade reporting markers of reperfusion and clinical outcome. We used a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model with logistic regression link in order to assess the correlation between each marker of reperfusion and mortality at 30 and 365 days. We also performed random effect meta-analysis for selected studies comparing mortality for specific categories of MBG. RESULTS: We identified 44 studies with 19,955 patients. Final TIMI 3 flow was achieved in 87%, 70% had MBG 2 or 3, and 66% had complete STR. Average 30-day and 1-year mortality was 2.97 ± 2.34% and 4.11 ± 2.52%, respectively. Adjusting (study level) for age, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, infarct location, ejection fraction, and female sex, there was significant correlation between each of the three markers and 1-year mortality (P=.03 for TIMI 3; P=.02 for MBG 2 or 3; and P=.04 for STR). In nearly 6000 patients, there was substantial excess mortality in those with MBG 0/1 compared with MBG 2/3 (relative risk = 2.14 [1.65-2.77] with P<.001 at 30 days; relative risk = 1.49 [1.3-1.7] and P<.001 at 1 year). CONCLUSION: After correcting for clinical factors known to affect outcome, there was a significant correlation between survival and better reperfusion.