Smokers with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and short time to treatment have equal effects of PCI and fibrinolysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to fibrinolysis in smokers and non-smokers with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Smokers seem to have less atherosclerosis but are more prone to thrombotic disease. Compared to non-smokers, they have higher rates of early, complete reperfusion when treated with fibrinolysis for MI. In the Second Danish Multicenter Trial in Acute Myocardial Infarction (DANAMI-2), a total of 1572 patients with STEMI were randomized to either fibrinolysis or PCI (1129 patients were enrolled at 24 referral hospitals and 443 patients at 5 invasive treatment centers). The primary endpoint for this substudy was death by any cause. Secondary endpoints were a composite of death by any cause, clinical re-infarction or disabling stroke. Follow-up was 3 years. The effect of PCI is reported according to time to treatment and smoking status. Data on smoking habits were available for 1534 patients (895 smokers and 639 non-smokers). Smokers with short time to treatment (3 hours to treatment all showed a tendency toward a superior effect of PCI irrespective of smoking habits. PCI and fibrinolysis are equally beneficial in smokers with STEMI and short time to treatment.