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Lars Køber

Publications and source records attributed to Lars Køber.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Advanced quantitative echocardiography in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular (RV) cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a regional disease of the RV myocardium with variable degrees of left ventricular involvement. Three-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) are new echocardiographic modalities for the evaluation of global and regional function, but the diagnostic potential remains to be assessed. METHODS: Twenty patients with previously established ARVC were evaluated by 3-dimensional echocardiography and DTI, and compared with 32 age- and sex-matched control subjects. RESULTS: Using 3-dimensional echocardiography, patients with ARVC had a decreased RV ejection fraction (0.47 +/- 0.08 vs 0.53 +/- 0.05, P < .01), and a decreased peak lateral systolic annular velocity by pulsed wave imaging of both the RV (11.9 +/- 2.6 vs 15.1 +/- 3.7 cm/s, P < .01) and the left ventricle (7.0 +/- 2.6 vs 9.5 +/- 1.9 cm/s, P < .01). DTI showed decreased regional systolic strain, but with wide variation in the measurements. CONCLUSION: Three-dimensional echocardiography identifies decreased RV ejection fraction in ARVC. Assessment of regional contractility by DTI is limited by wide variation. Echocardiographic evaluation of the longitudinal motility appears to be a sensitive marker of preclinical left ventricular involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Prognostic value of blood pressure measured during hospitalization after acute myocardial infarction: an insight from survival trials.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of blood pressure measured during hospitalization after acute myocardial infarction (MI) has not been investigated, particularly with regard to arrhythmic death. METHODS: A total of 3311 placebo patients (2612 men, median age 64 years; range 23-92) from the EMIAT, CAMIAT, SWORD, TRACE and DIAMOND-MI studies with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% or asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmia surviving more than 45 days after MI were pooled. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures and pulse pressures were measured soon after MI (median 6 days, range 0-53 days). Mortality up to 2 years was examined using Cox regression. RESULTS: At the 2-year follow-up, after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, previous MI, hypertension, heart rate, New York Heart Association functional class, baseline treatments, study effect and diastolic blood pressure, reduced systolic blood pressure measured during hospitalization after acute MI significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) for 10% increase in systolic blood pressure 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.90; P < 0.001] and arrhythmic mortality (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.61-0.86; P = 0.001). Reduced diastolic blood pressure significantly increased the risk of all-cause mortality (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77-0.98; P = 0.02) and arrhythmic mortality (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.93; P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: In post-MI patients with left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% or asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmia, reduced blood pressure measured during hospitalization after MI significantly predicts all-cause mortality and arrhythmic mortality, and can be reliably used to identify patients who are at risk of dying after MI.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Atrial fibrillation, ischaemic heart disease, and the risk of death in patients with heart failure.

AIMS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for death in patients with a myocardial infarction, but highly variable results are reported in patients with heart failure. We studied the prognostic impact of AF in heart failure patients with and without ischaemic heart disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: During a period of 2 years, 3587 patients admitted to hospital because of heart failure were included in this study. All patients were examined by echocardiography and the presence of AF was recorded. Follow-up was available for 8 years. Twenty four percent of those discharged alive from hospital had AF. After 4 and 8 years of follow-up, mortality was higher in patients with AF than in patients without, 56 vs. 52% and 77 vs. 73%, respectively. Cox multivariable regression analysis showed a small but significant importance of AF for long-term mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.12, 95% confidence limits (CI), 1.02-1.23, P=0.018]. There was a significant interaction between the importance of AF and the presence of ischaemic heart disease (P=0.034). In patients with AF at the time of discharge and ischaemic heart disease, HR was 1.25 (95% CI: 1.09-1.42) and P<0.001; in patients with AF at discharge and without ischaemic heart disease, HR was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.88-1.16) and P=0.88. CONCLUSION: AF is associated with increased risk of death only in patients with ischaemic heart disease. This finding may explain the variable results of studies of the prognosis associated with AF in heart failure.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Left bundle branch block as a risk factor for progression to heart failure.

The prevalence of conduction disturbances, particularly left bundle branch block (LBBB), is strongly correlated with age and with the presence of cardiovascular disease. LBBB has been reported to affect approximately 25% of the heart failure (HF) population and it is likely that the deleterious role of such conduction disorders in the progression to HF has been underestimated. The purpose of this article is to review the data from the literature indicating that LBBB may have a causative role, mediated through the resulting intra-ventricular asynchrony, in the deterioration of cardiac function and the development of cardiac remodelling and HF. It also aims to address the potential for future clinical therapies for this conduction disorder.

Bundle-Branch Block↗
PubMed2006

Risk of death or reinfarction associated with the use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and other nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but the risk in patients with established cardiovascular disease is unknown. We analyzed the risk of rehospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (MI) and death related to the use of NSAIDs including selective COX-2 inhibitors in patients with prior MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients with first-time MI between 1995 and 2002 as well as all prescription claims for NSAIDs after discharge were identified from nationwide Danish administrative registers. The risk of death and rehospitalization for MI associated with the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors and nonselective NSAIDs was studied with the use of multivariable proportional hazards models and case-crossover analysis. A total of 58 432 patients were discharged alive and included in the study; 9773 experienced rehospitalization for MI, and 16 573 died. A total of 5.2% of patients received rofecoxib, 4.3% celecoxib, 17.5% ibuprofen, 10.6% diclofenac, and 12.7% other NSAIDs. For any use of rofecoxib, celecoxib, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and other NSAIDs, the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for death were 2.80 (2.41 to 3.25; for rofecoxib), 2.57 (2.15 to 3.08; for celecoxib), 1.50 (1.36 to 1.67; for ibuprofen), 2.40 (2.09 to 2.80; for diclofenac), and 1.29 (1.16 to 1.43; for other NSAIDS); there were dose-related increases in risk of death for all of the drugs. There were trends for increased risk of rehospitalization for MI associated with the use of both the selective COX-2 inhibitors and the nonselective NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: Selective COX-2 inhibitors in all dosages and nonselective NSAIDs in high dosages increase mortality in patients with previous MI and should therefore be used with particular caution in these patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Impact of implantable defibrillators and resynchronization therapy on outcome in patients with left ventricular dysfunction--a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are debated. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate by a meta-analysis the effect of CRT and prophylactic ICD therapy in patients with LVSD. METHODS: Eligible trials evaluating the effect of CRT vs. no-CRT, ICD vs. no-ICD and adding ICD to CRT vs. no-ICD were selected and meta-analyzed. The outcomes were: all cause mortality, cardiac mortality, hospitalization for heart failure and change in exercise tolerance and New York Heart Association class. RESULTS: Implantation of CRT reduced all cause mortality odds ratio (OR) = 0.73 (0.60-0.89) p = 0.002 and hospitalization for heart failure OR = 0.60 (0.45, 0.80) p = 0.001, increased peak oxygen consumption by 1.77 (0.32-3.22) ml/kg/min p = 0.017 and improved New York Heart Association class by at least one class with OR = 1.52 (1.30, 1.77) p < 0.0001. Implantation of ICD reduced all-cause mortality OR = 0.75 (0.59-0.96) p = 0.025 and cardiac mortality OR = 0.63 (0.48, 0.82) p = 0.001. Adding ICD to CRT reduced all cause mortality OR = 0.69 (0.53-0.91) p = 0.008. CONCLUSION: Selective patients with LVSD benefit from CRT, ICD or both. Further investigations are necessary to clarify which patients benefit most from a single or combined device implantation.

Defibrillators, Implantable↗
PubMed2006

Anaemia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction following acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: In patients with chronic heart failure (HF), mortality is inversely related to haemoglobin (hgb) concentration. We investigated the prognostic importance of anaemia in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) with and without HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 1731 patients with AMI and left ventricular ejection fraction </=35% from the TRAndolapril Cardiac Evaluation (TRACE) study. Mild anaemia (110 g/L</=hgb<120 g/L in women and 120 g/L</=hgb<130 g/L in men) was present in 264 patients (15%), 114 (7%) had moderate (100 g/L</=hgb<110 g/L in women and 110 g/L</=hgb<120 g/L in men) and 59 (3%) had severe (hgb <100 g/L in women and <110 g/L in men) anaemia. According to the WHO criteria (hgb </=120 g/L in women and <130 g/L in men), 25% had anaemia. Anaemia was associated with increasing age, higher serum creatinine, lower body mass index, history of chronic HF, and worse NYHA class. In multivariable analyses including other prognostic factors only severe anaemia was associated with increased mortality, hazard ratio 1.59 (1.20-2.11). Anaemia was of prognostic importance in patients with HF, but not without HF. In HF patients the hazard ratios were 1.73 (1.26-2.36), 1.20 (0.93-1.56) and 1.05 (0.88-1.25) for severe, moderate and mild anaemia, respectively. CONCLUSION: Anaemia is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with AMI and LVSD, but prognostic importance of anaemia is confined to the first year following AMI. The increased risk is driven by patients with severe anaemia and HF.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Stem cell mobilization induced by subcutaneous granulocyte-colony stimulating factor to improve cardiac regeneration after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: result of the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled stem cells in myocardial infarction (STEMMI) trial.

BACKGROUND: Phase 1 clinical trials of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) treatment after myocardial infarction have indicated that G-CSF treatment is safe and may improve left ventricular function. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of subcutaneous G-CSF injections on left ventricular function in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients (62 men; average age, 56 years) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction were included after successful primary percutaneous coronary stent intervention <12 hours after symptom onset. Patients were randomized to double-blind treatment with G-CSF (10 microg/kg of body weight) or placebo for 6 days. The primary end point was change in systolic wall thickening from baseline to 6 months determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An independent core laboratory analyzed all MRI examinations. Systolic wall thickening improved 17% in the infarct area in the G-CSF group and 17% in the placebo group (P=1.0). Comparable results were found in infarct border and noninfarcted myocardium. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved similarly in the 2 groups measured by both MRI (8.5 versus 8.0; P=0.9) and echocardiography (5.7 versus 3.7; P=0.7). The risk of severe clinical adverse events was not increased by G-CSF. In addition, in-stent late lumen loss and target vessel revascularization rate in the follow-up period were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Bone marrow stem cell mobilization with subcutaneous G-CSF is safe but did not lead to further improvement in ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction compared with the recovery observed in the placebo group.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Previously known and newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: a major risk indicator after a myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction.

AIMS: To characterize the relationship between known and newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) and the risk of death and major cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by heart failure (HF) and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). METHODS: The VALIANT trial enrolled 14,703 individuals with acute MI complicated by HF and/or LVSD. AF was assessed at presentation and at randomization (median 4.9 days after symptom onset). Primary outcomes were risk of death and major CV events 3 years following acute MI. RESULTS: A total of 1812 with current AF (AF between presentation and randomization), 339 patients with prior AF (history of AF without current AF), and 12,509 without AF were enrolled. Patients with AF were older; had more prior HF, angina, and MI, and received beta-blockers and thrombolytics less often than those without AF. Three-year mortality estimates were 20% in those without AF, 37% with current AF, and 38% with prior AF. Compared with patients without AF, the multivariable adjusted HR of death was 1.25 (1.03-1.52; p=0.03) for prior AF and 1.32 (1.20-1.45; p<0.0001) for current AF. HR for major CV events was 1.15 (0.98-1.35; p=0.08) and 1.21 (1.12-1.31; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: AF is associated with greater long-term mortality and adverse CV events with acute MI complicated by HF or LVSD.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

[Prognostic value of N-terminal pro-BNP-type natriuretic peptide in patients with stable coronary heart disease--secondary publication].

We assessed the relationship between NT-proBNP levels and all-cause mortality in patients with stable coronary heart disease. NT-proBNP was measured in 1,034 patients referred for elective coronary angiography. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, the hazard ratio for death from any cause for patients with NT-proBNP levels in the fourth quartile as compared with those in the first quartile was 2.4 (95% CI 1.5-4.0). NT-proBNP provides prognostic information on all-cause mortality independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors and left ventricular dysfunction.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The effect of valsartan, captopril, or both on atherosclerotic events after acute myocardial infarction: an analysis of the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT).

OBJECTIVES: We attempted to compare the effect of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) on atherosclerotic events. BACKGROUND: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and ARBs interrupt the renin-angiotensin system by distinct mechanisms. It is not clear whether ARBs reduce atherosclerotic events such as myocardial infarction (MI) like ACE inhibitors. This evidence gap may reflect the nature of the studies conducted, to date. Placebo-controlled studies enrolled cohorts at low risk of atherosclerotic events (e.g., patients with chronic heart failure, most treated with an ACE inhibitor). One of the main active controlled trials was confounded by a blood pressure difference between treatments. METHODS: We compared the effects of captopril, valsartan, and their combination on atherosclerotic events in 14,703 patients randomized in the Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT). RESULTS: The number of individuals adjudicated as having a fatal or non-fatal MI in the captopril group was 559 (total investigator reported events 798), 587 (796) in the valsartan group, and 554 (756) in the combination group; valsartan versus captopril, p = 0.651 (0.965); combination versus captopril, p = 0.187 (0.350). Overall, all atherosclerotic events examined occurred at a similar frequency in the captopril and valsartan groups. CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin receptor blockers appear to be as effective as ACE inhibitors in reducing atherosclerotic events, even when used in addition to other secondary preventive treatments. These data, although not conclusive, also support the hypothesis that adding an ARB to an ACE inhibitor may have a small additional anti-infarction effect, a possibility that needs to be prospectively tested.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Long-term compliance with beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and statins after acute myocardial infarction.

AIMS: To study initiation, dosages, and compliance with beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors, and statins in patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to identify likely targets for improvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients admitted with first AMI between 1995 and 2002 were identified by linking nationwide administrative registers. A total of 55 315 patients survived 30 days after discharge and were included; 58.3% received beta-blockers, 29.1% ACE-inhibitors, and 33.5% statins. After 1, 3, and 5 years, 78, 64, and 58% of survivors who had started therapy were still receiving beta-blockers, 86, 78, and 74% were receiving ACE-inhibitors, and 85, 80, and 82% were receiving statins, respectively. Increased age and female sex were associated with improved compliance. The dosages prescribed were generally 50% or less of the dosages used in clinical trials, and dosages did not increase during the observation period. Patients who did not start treatment shortly after discharge had a low probability of starting treatment later. CONCLUSION: The main problem with underuse of recommended treatment after AMI is that treatment is not initiated at an appropriate dosage shortly after AMI. A focused effort in the immediate post-infarction period would appear to provide long-term benefit.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Is N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) a useful screening test for angiographic findings in patients with stable coronary disease?

BACKGROUND: Whether N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a useful screening tool for angiographic coronary artery disease in patients with angina is not known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic test performance of NT-proBNP in detecting coronary atherosclerotic lesions, as assessed by coronary angiography. METHODS: We examined 1034 patients referred for diagnostic angiography because of symptoms or signs of coronary artery disease. The diagnostic value of NT-proBNP in predicting clinically significant coronary disease was assessed. RESULTS: In a multiple logistic regression model, NT-proBNP above the upper normal limit (125 pg/mL) predicted clinically significant coronary disease at angiography independently of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and invasive measurements of left ventricular function (odds ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.2, P = .001). The ability of NT-proBNP in detecting clinically significant coronary disease at angiography was modest, however, with sensitivity of 0.61, specificity 0.60, accuracy 61 (95% CI 58-64), positive likelihood ratio 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.8), negative likelihood ratio 0.7 (95% CI 0.6-0.8), and area under the ROC curve 0.61 (95% CI 0.58-0.64). CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP is associated with clinically significant coronary disease at angiography, independently of left ventricular dysfunction. However, NT-proBNP is not a useful screening test for diagnosing significant angiographic lesions in patients with stable coronary disease.

Angina Pectoris↗
PubMed2006

Recurrence of pulmonary vein conduction and atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation: a randomized trial of the ostial versus the extraostial ablation strategy.

BACKGROUND: Both segmental ostial and circumferential extraostial pulmonary vein (PV) isolation have been proven effective in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the recurrence of AF and PV conduction after the 2 ablation strategies has never been compared in a randomized study. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients (age 56 +/- 10; 71 men) with symptomatic AF (paroxysmal, 51; persistent, 49) were randomized to segmental ostial (n = 54) or circumferential extraostial (n = 46) PV isolation. A circular catheter positioned at the ostium of each target PV guided the ostial PV isolation. Extraostial PV isolation was performed by encircling the paired left and right PVs, respectively, guided by an electroanatomic mapping system. RESULTS: A total of 84% of the patients had recurrent AF after the first PV isolation procedure, showing 72% with AF and 12% with organized left atrial tachycardia. In patients undergoing reablation, all but 2 patients had recurrence of left atrium PV conduction (>95%). During a mean follow-up of 12 months without antiarrhythmic medication, 57% of patients who underwent extraostial PV isolation were free of arrhythmia symptoms compared with 31% of patients who underwent ostial PV isolation (P < .05). This difference in success rate between the 2 ablation strategies was mainly seen in patients known with persistent AF (52% and 15%, respectively; P = .02) as opposed to patients with paroxysmal AF (65% and 46%, respectively; P = .26). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the more proximal, extraostial PV isolation was found to be superior to ostial PV isolation, especially in patients known with persistent AF. A high recurrence rate of 84% after a single complete PV isolation procedure was seen. At reablation, more than 95% had recurrence of left atrium PV conduction regardless of the procedure used, supporting the idea that complete PV isolation seems essential to prevent arrhythmia recurrences.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of regional versus global assessment of left ventricular function in patients with left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure, or both after myocardial infarction: the valsartan in acute myocardial infarction echocardiographic study.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and wall-motion index (WMI) have both been shown to be independent predictors of outcome after myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether these two measurements of LV systolic function provide similar or complementary information about prognosis after MI. METHODS: Echocardiography was performed in 610 patients with LV dysfunction, heart failure, or both after MI enrolled in the Valsartan in Acute MI trial. LVEF was estimated by biplane Simpson's rule, and WMI was assessed using a 16-segment model in 502 patients with echocardiograms of sufficient quality for wall-motion assessment. RESULTS: Both LVEF and WMI were independent predictors of adverse outcome after MI. LVEF conferred no additional prognostic information in multivariable analysis including WMI (P = .39) or number of affected segments (P = .53), whereas WMI (P = .02) and total number of affected segments (P = .006) remained significant even when adjusting for LVEF. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of regional dysfunction by WMI or the number of affected segments has slightly more prognostic value than LVEF in patients with LV dysfunction, heart failure, or both after MI. Regional assessment might be a more sensitive predictor of outcome than global assessment in patients with acute MI.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

The reliability of echocardiographic left ventricular wall motion index to identify high-risk patients for multicenter studies.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether the use of echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) wall motion index (WMI) is a dependable parameter for identifying patients with LV dysfunction to be enrolled in multicenter trials. METHODS: Videotaped echocardiographic examinations from 200 randomly selected patients that were screened for inclusion into the DIAMOND-CHF and DIAMOND-MI trials were reevaluated by an external expert echocardiographer. WMI was calculated using the 16-segment LV model. RESULTS: The external echocardiographer systematically found lower values of WMI than the core laboratory. The average difference in WMI was 0.18 (SD: 0.33) in the DIAMOND-CHF trial and 0.09 (SD: 0.33) in the DIAMOND-MI trial. The difference in WMI exceeded 0.33 in 34% of the patients in both trials. The cutoff value for inclusion into the DIAMOND trials was WMI < or = 1.2. There was an agreement on WMI dichotomized to below or above 1.2 in 82% of the patients in both trials (kappa coefficient 0.66 for the DIAMOND-CHF and 0.55 for the DIAMOND-MI). CONCLUSIONS: Despite substantial interlaboratory variation in WMI in individual patients and a systematic lower WMI score by the external echocardiographer there was an acceptable overall agreement for identifying patients with severe impairment of LV function. This not only underscores the value of LV-WMI as a useful tool for selecting high-risk patients to be included in multicenter studies but also serves to warn against the use of rigid cutoff values for WMI in the treatment of individual patients.

Anti-Arrhythmia Agents↗
PubMed2006

Mortality after acute myocardial infarction according to income and education.

OBJECTIVE: To study how income and educational level influence mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective analysis using individual level linkage of registries in Denmark. PARTICIPANTS: All patients 30-74 years old hospitalised for the first time with AMI in Denmark in 1995-2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative risk (RR) of 30 day mortality and long term mortality (31 days until 31 December 2003) associated with income (adjusted for education) or educational level (adjusted for income) and further adjusted for sex, age, civil status, and comorbidity. RESULTS: The study identified 21 391 patients 30-64 years old and 16 169 patients 65-74 years old. The 30 day mortality was 7.0% among patients 30-64 years old and 15.9% among those 65-74 years old. Among patients surviving the first 30 days, the long term mortality was 9.9% and 28.3%, respectively. The adjusted RR of 30 day mortality and long term mortality among younger patients with low compared with high income was 1.54 (95% confidence interval 1.36 to 1.79) and 1.65 (1.45 to 1.85), respectively. The RR of 30 day and long term mortality among younger patients with low compared with high education was 1.24 (1.03 to 1.50) and 1.33 (1.11 to 1.59), respectively. The RR of 30 day and long term mortality among older patients with low compared with high income was 1.27 (1.15 to 1.41) and 1.38 (1.27 to 1.50), respectively. Older high and low education patients did not differ in mortality. CONCLUSION: This study shows that both educational level and income substantially and independently affect mortality after AMI, indicating that each indicator has specific effects on mortality and that these indicators are not interchangeable.

Acute Disease↗