Association between BMI and cause-specific long-term mortality in acute myocardial infarction patients

Aims: To investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) at acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all-cause as well as cause-specific long-term mortality.

Methods: The analysis was based on 10,651 hospitalized AMI patients (age 25-84 years) recorded by the population-based Myocardial Infarction Registry Augsburg between 2000 and 2017. The median follow-up time was 6.7 years [IQR: 3.5-10.0)]. Cause-specific mortality was obtained by evaluating the death certificates. In multivariable-adjusted COX regression models using cubic splines for the variable BMI, the association between BMI and cause-specific mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular, ischemic heart diseases, cancer) was investigated. Additionally, a subgroup analysis in three age groups was performed for all-cause mortality.

Results: Overall, there was a statistically significant U-shaped association between BMI at AMI and long-term mortality with the lowest hazard ratios (HR) found for BMI values between 25 and 30 kg/m². For cancer mortality, higher BMI values > 30 kg/m² were not associated with higher mortality. In patients aged <60 years, there was a significant association between BMI values >35 kg/m² and increased all-cause mortality; this association was missing in 60 to 84 years old patients. For all groups and for each specific cause of mortality, lower BMI (<25kg/m²) values were significantly associated with higher mortality.

Conclusions: Overall, a lower BMI - and also a high BMI in patients younger than 60 years - seem to be a risk factors for increased all-cause mortality after AMI. A BMI in a mid-range between 25 and 30 kg/m² is favorable in terms of long-term survival after AMI.