Association between Raised Neutrophil Count and Congestive Heart Failure in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is usually accompanied with raised neutrophil count (NC) that results in higher rates of short-term post-MI adverse outcomes and chronic heart failure (CHF). Objective: The objective of this study is to assess neutrophil count as predictor of CHF development in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Department of Medicine, Mayo Hospital, Lahore for six months. After ethical approval, 180 cases of ages 30-80 years with either gender diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction presenting within 12 hours of onset, without any evidence of heart failure were enrolled by non-probability purposive sampling technique. All patients' neutrophil count was checked & was followed up for next four days for signs and symptoms of Heart Failure according to Framingham criteria. Data was analyzed through SPSS-20 & Chi-Sq. test was used to compare the frequency of CHF in patients with Raised NC and Normal NC. Results: Mean age of the patients was 57.5+9.83 years. There were 53.89% (n=97) males and 46.11% (n=83) females. 76.11% patients (n=137) had raised neutrophil count and 23.89% (n=43) had normal neutrophil count. Among patients with raised NC, 53.89% (n=97) developed CHF. Conclusion: Raised neutrophil count is a good predictor of CHF in patients of acute MI.