The association between C-reactive protein to albumin ratio and infarct location in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Purpose: Inflammation has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recently, the C -reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) has emerged as a novel parameter of systemic inflammation. Although studies have demonstrated the that anterior STEMI location is associated with a higher infarct size and worse prognosis, no study has investigated the CAR in relation to infarct location. We herein aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference regarding the CAR between patients with anterior and non -anterior STEMI location. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 273 consecutive STEMI patients who were divided into 2 groups based on the STEMI location, as the anterior STEMI group (n=114) and non -anterior STEMI group (n=159). Baseline characteristics were recorded, and the CAR was calculated for all patients. Results: Both groups were similar in terms of the baseline clinical characteristics. However, syntax score (p<0.001) was significantly higher and ejection fraction was lower (p<0.001) in the anterior STEMI group compared to the non -anterior STEMI group. The anterior STEMI patients had also significantly higher CAR (p<0.001). Correlation analysis showed that CAR was positively correlated with the syntax score (r = 0.249, p < 0.001) and troponin (r = 0.158, p = 0.009) whereas negatively correlated with ejection fraction (r = -0.124, p = 0.040). In the linear regression analysis, anterior STEMI location and syntax score were independently associated with the CAR. Conclusion: We found that STEMI patients with anterior location had significantly higher CAR. Also, anterior infarct location and syntax score were independently related to the CAR level. We suggest that a more widespread inflammatory response is triggered in patients with anterior STEMI compared to the patients with nonanterior STEMI.