Studies of determinants of myocardial infarction fatality
A substantial proportion of individuals who suffer from a myocardial infarction (MI) die shortly after the onset of symptoms, often before they reach hospital. Increased knowledge about factors influencing risk of MI fatality, both first time MI and recurrent MI, in the general population is needed to improve the scientific basis for preventive measures. The overarching aim of the project is to increase such a knowledge.
There may be many factors influencing whether a first-ever MI event, or a recurrent MI event, will have a fatal outcome or not such as size and location of the MI, treatment modalities and whether treatment was initiated early or delayed. However, there may also be different underlying biological mechanisms involved in the chain of causes that leads to a fatal MI as compared to those involved when the outcome is non-fatal. The biological mechanisms that are responsible for causing the MI, and for the repairing of damage caused by the MI are dependent on a number of different factors, including factors acting at the gene level, clinical characteristics of the individual and environmental exposures.
The project addresses specific research questions but uses also an exploratory approach. The studies are based on different study materials including the large AMORIS database (http://ki.se/en/people/gowall), the SHEEP study (link to project “Novel biomarkers and their role in risk prediction of cardiovascular disease”) and national registers.
Financing
- Heart and Lung Foundation
- Karolinska Institutet