In-hospital outcomes after primary percutaneous coronary intervention according to left ventricular ejection fraction

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not only to restore the blood flow in the infarct-related artery, but also to save the patients' quality and duration of their life. Since left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a known predictor of clinical outcomes in STEMI patients, the possible association between characteristics of a large group of patients who undergo pPCI with LVEF and death was evaluated. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 304 patients who had undergone pPCI between 2009 and 2011. The association between LVEF and in-hospital outcomes of patients was assessed. RESULTS: LVEF <= 25%, 25% < LVEF < 50%, and LVEF = 50% were presented in 23 (7.6%), 150 (49.3%), and 128 (42.1%) of the patients, respectively. Three patients (0.01%) died before echocardiography. There was no significant difference among aforementioned three groups regarding baseline characteristics, except age (P = 0.012) and sex (P = 0.016). Cumulative number of cardiogenic shock and death were 7 (2.3%) and 22 (7.2%), respectively; with significant differences between three LVEF groups. Age more than 70 years old, pulmonary edema, systolic blood pressure < 100 mm Hg, shock, post-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (MI) flow grade, corrected thrombolysis in MI frame count, angiographic success and ST-segment resolution showed significant association with death (P < 0.050). CONCLUSION: This study not only demonstrates that LVEF = 50% is associated with a higher incidence of in-hospital adverse events, but also identifies characteristics that are strongly correlated with the risk of LVEF = 50% and death after pPCI.