Social Support and 10-Year Mortality Following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

This study investigates social support type and long-term mortality following AMI. Demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from a tertiary hospital for all patients with AMI (2011–2017). Study groups based on support type were defined: (1) employed partner (served as the reference group); (2) unemployed partner; (3) no partner, family support; (4) institutional or benefit-dependent; and (5) non-kin support (caregiver). Ten-year all-cause mortality risk was assessed and compared between the groups. We identified 2652 AMI patients with recorded support type: mean age 67.6 (SD = 14) years, 66% male; 40% had no partner, followed by those with an unemployed partner (31%). Over the follow-up of (median) 7.6 years, 1471 patients died; significantly higher mortality rates were observed in patients without family support (67.9%) or receiving non-kin support (94.9%). Those with non-kin support were at the highest mortality risk, AdjHR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.67–2.91, p < 0.001, as compared with the reference group. Subgroup analyses found women below age 75 years, Arab women, and those with higher functional status to be most vulnerable to mortality in the absence of family support. Lack of family support was associated with increased long-term mortality among AMI patients. Assessment of support status among AMI patients is integral for secondary prevention.