Alexithymia is a determinant of early death in the long-term course of post-myocardial infarction

Abstract

Among people with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), high alexithymia was associated with delay to hospital arrival. High alexithymia could be a determinant of early death in the long term after STEMI. People with STEMI who par-ticipated in a survey in 2011, was tested about the state of life in 2021. The sample was divided into two cohorts (cut-off: TAS-20≥61 in 2011). The relationship between possible death occurred and having high alexithymia was calculated by comparing the mortality after 10 years in the two cohorts through the Cox’ pro-portional hazard model. Status in life was verified on 39.3% of the sample. No differences were found regarding age, sex, high alex-ithymia between individuals on whom it was possible to verify the state in life and in whose it was not. In 2021, among people having high alexithymia in 2011, a higher risk of early death was found (RR=5.75, CI 95% 1.116-29.637).