Ethnic differences in mortality of male and female patients surviving acute myocardial infarction: long-term follow-up of 5,700 patients. The Secondary Prevention Reinfarction Israeli Nifedipine Trial (SPRINT) Study Group

The mortality risk after myocardial infraction in migrants compared with natives: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Objective

The evidence on the risk of mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) among migrants compared with natives is mixed and limited. The aim of this study is to assess the mortality risk after MI in migrants compared to natives.

Methods

This study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42022350876. We searched the Medline and Embase databases, without time and language constraints, for cohort studies that reported the risk of mortality after MI in migrants compared to natives. The migration status is confirmed by country of birth, both migrants and natives are general terms and are not restricted to a particular country or area of destination or origin. Two reviewers separately screened searched studies according to selection criteria, extracted data, and assessed data quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and risk of bias of included studies. Pooled estimates of adjusted and unadjusted mortality after MI were calculated separately using a random-effects model, and subgroup analysis was performed by region of origin and follow-up time.

Result

A total of 6 studies were enrolled, including 34,835 migrants and 284,629 natives. The pooled adjusted all-cause mortality of migrants after MI was higher than that of natives (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.10-1.39; I²= 83.1%), while the the pooled unadjusted mortality of migrants after MI was not significantly different from that of natives (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.69-1.79; I²= 99.3%). In subgroup analyses, adjusted 5-10 years mortality (3 studies) was higher in the migrant population (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12-1.45; I²= 86.8%), while adjusted 30 days (4 studies) and 1-3 years (3 studies) mortality were not significantly different between the two groups. Migrants from Europe (4 studies) (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.55; I²= 39%), Africa (3 studies) (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 01.31-1.72; I²= 0%), and Latin America (2 studies) (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.30-1.60; I²= 0%) had significantly higher rates of post-MI mortality than natives, with the exception of migrants of Asian origin (4 studies) (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.99-1.46; I²= 72.7%).

Conclusions

Migrants tend to have lower socioeconomic status, greater psychological stress, less social support, limited access to health care resources, etc., therefore, face a higher risk of mortality after MI in the long term compared to natives. Further research is needed to confirm our conclusions, and more attention should be paid to the cardiovascular health of migrants.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: r CRD42022350876.

Ethnic Disparity in Mortality Among Ischemic Heart Disease Patients. A-20 Years Outcome Study From Israel

Background: Long-term morbidity and mortality data among ischemic heart disease (IHD) patients of different ethnicities are conflicting. We sought to determine the independent association of ethnicity and all-cause mortality over two decades of follow-up of Israeli patients.

Methods: Our study comprised 15,524 patients including 958 (6%) Arab patients who had been previously enrolled in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) registry between February 1, 1990, and October 31, 1992, and subsequently followed-up for long-term mortality. We compared clinical characteristics and outcomes of Israeli Arabs and Jews. Propensity score matching (PSM) (1:2 ratios) was used for validation.

Results: Arab patients were significantly younger (56 ± 7 years vs. 60 ± 7 years; p < 0.001; respectively), and had more cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that all-cause mortality was significantly higher among Arab patients (67 vs. 61%; log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariate adjusted analysis showed that mortality risk was 49% greater (HR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.37–1.62; p < 0.001) among Arabs.

Conclusions: Arab ethnicity is independently associated with an increased 20-year all-cause mortality among patients with established IHD.

Short and long-term prognosis following acute myocardial infarction according to the country of origin. Soroka acute myocardial infarction II (SAMI II) project

BACKGROUND

Reports from many countries have shown birthplace-associated disparities in the incidence and mortality following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aims of the study were to identify and compare short- and long-term post-AMI mortality according to birthplace.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of Israeli AMI patients from a tertiary medical center in Southern Israel throughout 2002-2012.

DATA SOURCE

the hospital's computerized systems. Patients were classified according to the country of birth (Israel, Southern Europe/Balkans, Northern Africa, Eastern/Central Europe, India/Pakistan, Middle-East, Yemen, and Ethiopia).

STUDY OUTCOMES

in-hospital and up to 10-years post-discharge all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

The study included 11,143 patients, age 67.4 ± 13.9 and 67.5% men. Israeli-born patients were significantly younger, with lower rate of diabetes mellitus and hypertension but significantly higher rate of obesity, smoking, history of coronary artery disease and male sex compared with immigrants. The rate of STEMI and administration of percutaneous coronary revascularization was higher, yet extent of coronary findings and severe left ventricular dysfunction was lower in Israeli-born patients. In-hospital as well as post-discharge 1-and 10-year mortality rates were approximately 65% lower in Israeli-born patients compared with immigrants. Following adjustment for potential confounders the inequalities in post-discharge mortality attenuated (Yemen OR = 2.3 [95%CI: 1.4-3.6], Southern Europe/Balkans 1.75 [1.2-2.5], Northern Africa 1.5 [1.3-1.8], Eastern/Central Europe 1.4 [1.2-1.7] and India/Pakistan 1.4 [1.1-1.9], for 10-years mortality, p < 0.05 for each) and those for in-hospital mortality disappeared.

CONCLUSIONS

Immigrants are at increased risk for post-discharge, yet not in-hospital mortality following AMI. Appropriate targeted preventive programs are required for these groups of patients.

Gender and ethnic disparities in outcome following acute myocardial infarction among Bedouins and Jews in southern Israel

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have documented gender-ethnic disparities in outcomes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study evaluates such disparities in the Negev, Israel, and reviews potentially responsible mechanisms.

METHODS

Patients discharged with AMI were classified into young (<70 years), elders (≥70 years) and gender-ethnicity groups: Female Bedouins (FB), Female Jews (FJ), Male Bedouins (MB) and Male Jews (MJ). The primary outcome was 1-year all-cause mortality. Prognosis was assessed using Kaplan-Meier approach. Multivariable analyses assessing hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression models in two steps controlling for (i) the Ontario Acute Myocardial Infarction Mortality Prediction Rules (OAMIMPRs) and (ii) the OAMIMPR and additional potential confounders.

RESULTS

Of 2669 subjects, 45.8% were elders, 66.2% male and 10.9% Bedouin. The mortality rate was 12.3% (young 4.6%, elders 22%). Survival was significantly lower in FB compared with MB in the elderly stratum (P = 0.025). Multivariate analyses demonstrated similar risks for dying among the young. In the elders, the first multivariate analysis showed greater risk for mortality in FB. Using FB as the reference group, the HRs were as follows: HR((MB)) = 0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.14-0.9]; HR((FJ)) = 0.5 (95% CI: 0.27-0.9) and HR((MJ)) = 0.5 (95% CI: 0.28-0.91). In the second analysis, the HRs were as follows: HR((MB)) = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.14-0.93); HR((FJ)) = 0.58 (95% CI: 0.32-1.07) and HR((MJ)) = 0.56 (95% CI: 0.31-1.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Elderly FB have poor 1-year prognosis following AMI compared with MB, MJ and FJ when controlling for the OAMIMPR model, yet when controlling for other potential confounders the differences are of borderline significance in relation to Jewish subjects. A culturally and economically sensitive programme focusing on tertiary prevention in these patients is warranted.

Ethnic gap in coronary artery disease: comparison of the extent, severity, and risk factors in Arab and Jewish middle-aged women

The authors examined risk factors and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) among Jewish and Arab women in Jerusalem, where Arab women were found to have worse outcome. All angiographically confirmed cases of CAD among women aged 45 to 65 years who were hospitalized during 1990 to 1995 consisted of 40 Arab and 179 Jewish patients. Arab women had more atypical clinical presentations (P<.0001) and more extensive CAD (P=.0016) despite younger age (53+/-3 vs 55+/-5 years; P<.0003) and lesser smoking (P<.0006). The Arab women, however, were more likely to be obese (80% vs 46%; P=.0002), be physically inactive (100% vs 89%; P=.0285), and have diabetes mellitus (73% vs 40%; P=.0004). Moreover, they were more likely to have 3 or more risk factors (45% vs 23%; P=.036). Thus, a combination of an atypical presentation and higher risk (ie, diabetes mellitus combined with hypertension and other risk factors) and much more extensive disease readily explains their worse outcome.