Association of the PURSUIT risk score with predischarge ejection fraction, angiographic severity of coronary artery disease, and mortality in a nonselected, community-based population with non-ST–elevation acute myocardial infarction

Background The Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa in Unstable Angina: Receptor Suppression Using Integrilin Therapy (PURSUIT) risk score was derived from the PURSUIT trial population for 30-day mortality prediction. Methods The PURSUIT risk score was calculated for 337 consecutive Olmsted County residents with non-ST–elevation acute myocardial infarction admitted to the coronary care unit of our institution from 1988 through 1998. Predischarge ejection fraction (EF) measurement was available for 246 patients (73%). After excluding patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery (n = 42), 219 patients (65%) had coronary angiography within 30 days of admission. Mortality at 30 days was 8.9%. Among 30-day survivors, mortality at 1 year was 7.9%. Results Mean age was 70 ± 13 years, and 37% of patients were women. Mean predischarge EF was 52% ± 16%. Patients with higher PURSUIT risk score had lower EF (P < .001). Three-vessel (≥70% stenosis in all 3 coronary arteries) or left main (≥50% stenosis) coronary artery disease was present in 60 of 219 patients (27%) who had coronary angiography. Higher PURSUIT risk score was associated with greater likelihood of 3-vessel or left main disease (P < .001). The PURSUIT risk score had very good predictive accuracy for both early (30-day, C-statistic = 0.78) and late (30-day to 1-year, C-statistic = 0.77) mortality. Conclusions The PURSUIT risk score correlates with EF, angiographic severity of coronary artery disease, and short- and long-term mortality of nonselected patients with non-ST–elevation acute myocardial infarction.