Stress hyperglycaemia is an independent predictor of left ventricular remodelling after first anterior myocardial infarction in non-diabetic patients

AIMS: Stress hyperglycaemia (SH) is associated with adverse outcome in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) but the mechanisms underlying this association are unknown. Our hypothesis was that SH on admission for acute MI may be associated with left ventricular (LV) remodelling. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed LV remodelling in 162 non-diabetic patients with anterior MI. SH was defined as a glycaemia on admission >or=7 mmol/L. Systematic echocardiographic follow-up was performed at 3 months and 1 year after MI. The changes in end-diastolic volume (EDV) and end-systolic volume (ESV) from baseline to 1 year were 11.4 +/- 16.5 and 6.4 +/- 12.4 ml/m(2), respectively, in patients with SH vs. 1.9 +/- 11.1 and 0.2 +/- 8.5 ml/m(2), respectively, in patients without SH (both P < 0.0001). When LV remodelling was defined as a >20% increase in EDV, it was observed in 46% patients in the SH group vs. 19% patients in the no SH group (P = 0.0008). By multivariable analysis, baseline wall motion score index (P = 0.001) and SH (P = 0.009) were independently associated with changes in EDV. SH was an independent predictor of LV remodelling [adjusted OR: 3.22 (1.31-7.94)]. CONCLUSION: SH is a major and independent predictor of LV remodelling after anterior MI in non-diabetic patients.