Increased risk of myocardial infarction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea

Background: The risk of myocardial infarction (MI), the major form of CVD, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is currently unknown. We investigated the risk of MI in ALS and analyzed the effect of ALS-related physical disability on the risk of MI using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Methods: A total of 659 ALS patients and 10,927 non-ALS participants were finally selected between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2015. A Cox hazard regression model was used to examine the hazard ratios (HRs) for MI in ALS after adjustment for potential confounders. Results: The incidence rate of MI was 26.2 per 1000 person-years, and the adjusted HR (aHR) for MI in ALS patients was 10.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7.2–15.4) compared with the controls. ALS patients who developed physical disability had an even higher risk of MI (aHR 18.6, 95% CI 11.5–30.0) compared with those who did not develop disability (aHR 7.4, 95% CI 4.6–11.9). The increased risk of MI was more prominent in female subjects than in male subjects (aHR 17.8, 95% CI 10.8–29.4 vs. aHR 6.9, 95% CI 4.1–11.6, P for interaction 0.006) and in obese subjects than in non-obese subjects (aHR 17.8, 95% CI 10.5–30.1 vs. aHR 7.9, 95% CI 4.9–12.8, P for interaction 0.018). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the risk of MI is high in ALS patients compared with a control population, and the risk is more prominent in those who develop physical disability, or who are female or obese.