Psycho-emotional disorders as incoming risk factors for myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries

Abstract

Background: There is an emerging field underlying the myocardial infarction (MI) with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of psycho-emotional disorders and social habits in MINOCA patients. Methods: The study included 95 consecutive patients diagnosed of MINOCA and 178 patients with MI and obstructive lesions. MINOCA patients were included when they fulfilled the three main criteria: accomplishment of the Third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction, absence of obstructive coronary arteries and no clinically overt specific cause for the acute presentation. Results: MINOCA patients had a higher frequency of previous psychiatric illnesses than the obstructive coronary arteries group (29.7% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.001). MINOCA patients recognized emotional stress in 75.7% of the cases, while only 32.1% of the obstructive related group did (p < 0.001). The relationship remained after excluding takotsubo syndrome from the analysis (26 cases, 27.4%): psychiatric diseases (27.9% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.01) and recognition of emotional stress (70.8% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001). Social habits which could act as stress modulating showed no significant relation with MINOCA. Conclusions: Psycho-emotional disorders are related to MINOCA and they could act as risk factor. This relationship is maintained after excluding takotsubo from the analysis.