Prevalence and prognostic implications of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction among patients with STEMI in India

AIMS: To describe clinical characteristics and outcomes for those with STEMI and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMICs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Adults presenting with STEMI to two government‐owned tertiary care centres in Delhi, India were prospectively enrolled in the North India ST‐elevation myocardial infarction (NORIN‐STEMI) registry. LVEF was evaluated at presentation and clinical characteristics were compared across LVEF categories. Overall, 3597 patients were included, of whom 468 (13%) had LVEF >50%, 1482 (41%) had mildly reduced LVEF (40–49%), 1357 (38%) had moderately reduced LVEF (30–39%), and 290 (8%) had severely reduced LVEF (<30%). Presentation delay >24 h, prior MI, and hyperlipidaemia were associated with decreasing LVEF category. Although most patients with reduced LVEF were discharged on appropriate guideline‐directed therapies, adherence at 1 year was low (ACE inhibitor/ARB 91% to 41%, beta blocker 98% to 78%, aldosterone receptor antagonist 69% to 6%). After multivariable adjustment, a Cox regression model showed moderately reduced LVEF (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.20, 2.60) and severely reduced LVEF (HR 3.63, 95% CI 2.41, 5.48) were associated with increased risk of all‐cause mortality compared with LVEF ≥50%. CONCLUSIONS: On presentation for STEMI, almost 90% of NORIN‐STEMI participants had at least mildly reduced LVEF and almost half had LVEF <40%. Patients with LVEF <40% had significantly higher risk of mortality at 1 year, and adherence to guideline‐directed therapies at 1 year was poor. Systematic initiatives to improve access to timely revascularization and guideline‐directed therapies are essential in advancing STEMI care in LMICs.