ASSESSMENT OF 6-MONTH CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND RESIDUAL RISK AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH PRIOR COVID-19 INFECTION

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is increasingly recognized not only as a respiratory infection but also as a condition associated with long-term cardiovascular complications. In elderly patients, previous COVID-19 infection may enhance inflammatory and thrombotic processes, thereby increasing residual cardiovascular risk after myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to evaluate 6-month clinical outcomes and residual risk after myocardial infarction in elderly patients with prior COVID-19 infection. The study included 105 elderly patients hospitalized with myocardial infarction in the post-COVID period at the Namangan regional branch of the Scientific and Practical Cardiology Center. Clinical examination, electrocardiography, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, laboratory tests, and coronary angiography were used for assessment. Patients were followed for six months, and mortality, rehospitalizations, recurrent myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, progression of chronic heart failure, and coronary revascularization were recorded. During follow-up, overall survival was 96.7%, while mortality reached 3.3%. Rehospitalizations occurred in 24.1% of patients, recurrent myocardial infarction in 5.2%, clinically significant arrhythmias in 20.7%, and progression of chronic heart failure in 17.2%. MACE-free survival was 75.9%, indicating persistent residual cardiovascular risk. These findings suggest that elderly patients with myocardial infarction after COVID-19 infection require careful outpatient monitoring and individualized secondary prevention.