Peripheral artery disease and outcomes after myocardial infarction: an individual-patient meta-analysis of 28,771 patients in CAPRICORN, EPEHESUS, OPTIMAAL and VALIANT.

Objectives: To examine the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and the relationship between PAD and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in subjects with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, heart failure or both after acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Background: PAD is associated with poorer prognosis in patients with stable and unstable coronary heart disease but whether PAD is associated with worse outcomes following substantial acute MI is unknown.

Methods: Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to compare clinical outcomes in an individual-patient meta-analysis of 4 trials (CAPRICORN, EPHESUS, OPTIMAAL and VALIANT).