Type II Myocardial Infarction: Predisposing Factors, Precipitating Elements, and Outcomes

Introduction Myocardial infarction (MI) is a subset of the spectrum of the disease known as acute coronary syndrome (ACS), which comprises three distinct entities including unstable angina (UA) and MI with or without ST-segment elevation. However, many clinicians are unaware that MI itself is classified into five types, the most common being type I, followed by type II. Type II MI occurs due to coronary insufficiency not related to acute plaque change in the coronary vasculature. Data available on type II MI is still limited, particularly in the South Asian setting, despite documented poorer outcomes for the same compared to other types. Therefore, we conducted this study as an attempt to outline the predisposing factors, precipitating elements, and possible outcomes of type II MI. Materials and methods This prospective study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Kochi, Kerala for 12 months. A total of 59 patients of ages 10-99 years, with a final diagnosis of MI based on the levels of cardiac biomarkers and electrocardiography (ECG), no previous history of coronary angiography, thrombolysis, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and non-ischemic conditions producing elevations in cardiac biomarkers were included in this study. Demographic features, cardiac biomarker levels, comorbidities, precipitating factors, foci of sepsis, and outcomes of type II MI were noted. The mean was calculated for age and cardiac biomarkers. The frequency and percentages were calculated for gender, comorbidities, precipitating factors, foci of sepsis, and the outcomes of type II MI. Results The mean age of the patients was 69.66 years; 38 (64.4%) patients were males and 21 (35.59%) were females. Mean elevation of creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB) was 47.457 IU/L and highly sensitive troponin I (Hs-Trop I) was 8.712 ng/mL. Diabetes mellitus [44 (74.57%)] and hypertension [41 (69.49%)] were the most common underlying patient comorbidities followed by dyslipidemia [38 (64.4%)]. Most of the patients had more than two comorbidities at a time; 33 (55.93%) patients had sepsis, 31 (52.4%) patients had anemia, 29 (49.1%) patients had electrolyte imbalance, 19 (32.2%) patients had respiratory failure, 16 (27.11%) patients had arrhythmia (tachyarrhythmia/bradyarrhythmia), and two (3.3%) patients had postoperative (non-cardiothoracic) stress. Sepsis was originating from the lower respiratory tract in 14 (42.42%) patients, blood in 11 (33.33%) patients, urinary tract in eight (24.24%) patients, and abdomen in six (18.18%) patients. Thirty-four (57.62%) patients had heart failure, 13 (22.03%) had arrhythmias, and 19 (32.20%) patients died. Conclusions Type II MI has a high mortality rate, mostly due to heart failure and arrhythmia. Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension are at increased risk of type II MI. Sepsis is the most common precipitating factor, primarily originating from the lower respiratory tract, followed by anemia and dyselectrolytemia. Treatment of precipitating factors is the primary way to manage type II MI.