Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist use in eligible patients following acute myocardial infarction: real world data from the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys: 2004-2010

Background: Following the EPHESUS trial in 2003, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) therapy received a class I indication for the management of eligible high-risk post-MI patients. Our goal was to examine temporal trends in MRA use in eligible post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Methods: We investigated temporal trends and factors associated with MRA utilization among eligible patients enrolled in the biannual Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys (ACSIS) 2004-2010.

Results: Among 7696 patients enrolled in the ACSIS surveys from 2004, 955 (12%) were eligible for MRA therapy. In this population, prescription of MRAs at discharge from the index event showed a modest increase from 21% to 25% over the six-year period, whereas utilization of other guideline recommended drugs, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/receptor blockers and β-blockers was >2-fold higher. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent predictors of MRA prescription at discharge included a higher degree of left ventricular dysfunction (LVEF ≤30% vs. 31-40%: OR = 2.19; p = 0.02), history of heart failure prior to admission (OR = 1.92; p <0.004), admission Killip≥II (OR = 1.78; p = 0.004), and an anterior location of the index MI (OR = 1.54; p = 0.03). MRA utilization was not associated with an increased risk for adverse events or rehospitalization at 30 days of follow-up.

Conclusions: In a real world setting, approximately one quarter of eligible post-MI patients are treated with an MRA following the index event, without a significant time-dependent change in this management strategy. MRAs are more likely to be underutilized in eligible lower-risk patients.