Association between raised neutrophil count and congestive heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction

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 and was followed up for next four days for signs and symptoms of Heart Failure according to Framingham criteria. Data was analyzed through SPSS-20 and 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. (author)