OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors associated with increased combined end points (including death, new myocardial infarction and stroke) of patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome in China.

METHODSPatients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome hospitalized in 38 hospitals in China were included in this registry study as part of an international multicentre registry-OASIS. Data including clinical characteristics, previous medical history, therapeutic procedure and follow-up medicines, were collected and analyzed. The follow up period was two years. Cox regression model was used to analyze the association between multiple risk factors and combined end points.

RESULTSFrom April 1999 to December 2001, 2294 eligible patients were enrolled nationwide and 2294 patients finished the 2 years follow up (mean age: 62.8 +/- 8.3 years and 62.3% males). The mortality was 7.6% (174/2294), 168 new myocardial infarction and 93 stroke were recorded during follow up and the combined end point events was 365 (15.9%) at the end of the two year's follow-up. Forty-eight factors were analyzed by Cox regression model to determine the impact of these factors on the occurrence of end point event. Risk factors that promoting end points were: thrombolysis during hospitalization, heart rate more than 120 bpm at admission, current smoker, history of PTCA, length of the first hospitalization, intravenous nitrate use during hospitalization, history of heart failure, low molecular weight heparin or subcutaneous heparin use during hospitalization, former smoker, calcium antagonist use during hospitalization, history of hypertension or coronary artery disease, recurrent angina pectoris during hospitalization and age by the first hospitalization. Protective factors that reducing end point were: normal ECG at admission, use of oral nitrate, anti-platelet medicine, calcium antagonist, lipid lowering agents and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor during follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONThe two-years incidence of combined endpoints of death, new myocardial infarction and stroke in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes is 15.9% in China. Fifteen factors are associated with increased and 8 factors (mostly related to regular medication use) are associated with reduced occurrence of endpoints during follow up in this cohort.