Psychotropic medication use and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock
Authors: Bo Kunkel J , Nerst D , Laursen Graversen P , Josiassen J , Lerche Helgestad O K , Schmidt H , Holmvang L , Okkels Jensen L , Thoegersen M , Fosboel E , Berg Ravn H , Eifer Moeller J , Hassager C 
Published: May 2024

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): The Danish Heart Foundation the Research Foundation of Odense University Hospital & Rigshospitalet.

Background

The impact of pre-existing mental illness on mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock (AMICS) remains unclear.

Purpose

This study aims to assess the relation between pharmacologically treated mental disorders at the time of AMICS admission with patient characteristics and mortality. A surrogate marker for mental illness was defined as having at least one reimbursed prescription for psychotropic medication (Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) group and subgroups N05, N06) within one year prior to admission with AMICS. Patients were divided into three therapy categories: None, one ATC subgroup, or two or more ATC subgroups. One-year survivors were further stratified by therapy status one year before admission and one year after discharge. Mortality was assessed at 30 days (5 years for one-year survivors). Kaplan-Meier estimates and univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess mortality rates stratified by treatment group.

Results

Of the cohort, 425 patients (25%) received therapy with psychotropic medication within the previous year at the time of presentation with AMICS. Polypharmacy (two or more ATC N05, N06 subgroups) was identified in 132 patients (8%). In these patients, there was a higher prevalence of comorbidities and a greater proportion of females (42% vs. 21%, p&lt;0.001), compared to no treatment. More patients in the polypharmacy group presented with chest pain (60% vs. 52%, p=0.031), they were less often triaged directly to an invasive center (55% vs. 70%, p&lt;0.001), and 30-day mortality was higher (73% vs. 51%, p&lt;0.001). Among the 712 one-year survivors, 121 (17%) were treated with one or more drugs within one year before and after their AMICS admission. 149 (21%) began receiving therapy in the year following their AMICS admission. 422 (59%) never received psychotropic medication.

In an unadjusted Cox model, therapy with two or more drugs, compared to no therapy, was associated with higher 30-day mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.43-2.19, p&lt;0.001). This association remained significant in multivariable analysis (HR 1.66, 95%CI 1.22-2.26, p=0.001).

Among one-year survivors, therapy with one or more drugs before and after AMICS was tied to an almost two-fold increase in five-year mortality (adjusted HR 1.95, 95%CI 1.23-3.10, p=0.004).

Conclusions

AMICS patients with pharmacologically treated mental illnesses were associated with higher mortality rates, as well as less favorable clinical profiles and treatment patterns. This increased risk remains evident among one-year survivors.