Increased subsequent risk of acute coronary syndrome for patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the possible association between dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) and subsequent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk.

Method: We used data from the National Health Insurance (NHI) system of Taiwan to address the research topic. The exposure cohort contained 2029 patients with new diagnoses of DM/PM. Each patient was randomly frequency-matched according to sex and age with four participants from the general population who did not have a history of ACS at the index date (control group). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to estimate the relationship between DM/PM and subsequent ACS risk.

Results: Among patients with DM/PM, the overall risk for developing subsequent ACS was significantly higher than that of the control group [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–3.35]. Further analysis indicated a higher risk in patients who were male, older, or diagnosed with comorbidities.

Conclusions: The findings from this population-based retrospective cohort study suggest that DM/PM is associated with an increased subsequent ACS risk.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by study grants (DMR-102-014 and DMR-102-023) from our hospital, from the Clinical Trial and Research Centre of the Taiwanese Department of Health (DOH102-TD-B-111-004), and Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare Clinical Trail and Research Center of Excellence (MOHW103-TDU-B-212-113002), Health and welfare surcharge of tobacco products, China Medical University Hospital Cancer Research Center of Excellence (MOHW103-TD-B-111-03, Taiwan).