ST-segment abnormalities are associated with long-term prognosis in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: The ERICO-ECG study

•We studied long-term prognosis of ECG changes during ACS in-hospital treatment.•We followed 623 patients with non-ST-elevation ACS for 3 years (median).•ST-segment abnormalities in final or any tracing associated with poorer outcomes.

IntroductionWe aimed to identify whether ST-segment abnormalities, in the admission or during in-hospital stay, are associated with survival and/or new incident myocardial infarction (MI) in 623 non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome participants of the Strategy of Registry of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ERICO) study.Materials and methodsERICO is conducted in a community-based hospital. ST-segment analysis was based on the Minnesota Code. We built Cox regression models to study whether ECG was an independent predictor for clinical outcomes.ResultsMedian follow-up was 3 years. We found higher risk of death due to MI in individuals with ST-segment abnormalities in the final ECG (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-6.28). Individuals with ST-segment abnormalities in any tracing had a non-significant trend toward a higher risk of fatal or new non-fatal MI (p = 0.088).ConclusionsST-segment abnormalities after the initial tracing added long-term prognostic information.