Prognostic Impact of Iron Metabolism Changes in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and its Correlation with TIMI Risk Score and 6-month Left Ventricular Performance

Abstract

Objectives: Iron is vital for human metabolism and function. One major cause of anemia is a shortage of iron. On the other hand, a low blood iron level does not always indica te an abnormal hemoglobin concentration. Left ventricular function, ferritin, and blood iron levels were investigated 6 months following the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) index event. In addition, we searched for correlations between thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score, cytokines such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum iron content. Materials and Methods: From August 2021 to July 2022, 100 consecutive patients with ACS who were requesting admission to the critical care unit of the Cardiology Department at SCB Medical College in Cuttack, Odisha, were the subject of this study. Participants in our research with ST-elevation or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (ST elevation myocardial infarction [STEMI] or Non ST elevation myocardial infarction [NSTEMI]) ranged in age from 18 to 70 years. We measured CRP, transferrin saturation, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, and blood iron at baseline. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF %) difference was assessed 6 months after baseline echocardiography and follow-up. Various factors were considered while calculating the short- and long-term prognoses, including the patient’s heart failure at admission and any deaths that took place in hospitals within 6 months after the index event. Results: There was no improvement in LVEF for 56.25% of patients (36 out of 66) 6 months after the index event; however, for 43.75% (28 patients) of the 66 STEMI patients, LVEF improved. Out of 34 NSTEMI patients, 14 (42.42%) improved their LVEF 6 months after ACS, whereas 19 (57.58%) did not. Serum iron levels and LVEF at 6 months were shown to be significantly correlated in all patients (overall P < 0.001, STEMI P < 0.001, and NSTEMI P = 0.001). Serum iron levels are positively correlated with improvements in LVEF after 6 months in both patients with STEMI; P < 0.001, and NSTEMI P = 0.006. Serum iron levels and hospitalized STEMI patients’ TIMI risk scores showed a significant connection (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Regardless of hemoglobin content, patients with <10% improvement in LVEF from baseline had considerably lower blood iron levels. Six months after their initial ACS incident, patients with ACS who had lower blood iron concentrations at baseline recovered less well in terms of left ventricular systolic function. In our study, 48% of men and 68% of women were found to be iron deficient. In addition to being an indicator of inflammation, hypoferremia may be the target of a novel biomarker with potential applications in medicine in the near future. It could be useful in predicting left ventricular function following ACS.