Outcomes for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction in the United States: insights from the National Inpatient Sample

This study aims to determine the frequency and impact of concomitant cerebral infarction and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and association with in-hospital outcomes. We analyzed the nationally representative data from National Inpatient Sample between 2016 and 2019. We used multiple logistic regressions to determine the impact of sustaining a cerebral infarction or AMI on in-hospital mortality and linear regression to evaluate length of stay and hospitalization costs. A total of 2,396,450 admissions for cerebral infarction, 4,098,904 admissions for AMI and 130,635 admissions for both conditions were identified. The in-hospital mortality was 7.2% overall: 5.6% for patients with cerebral infarction, 7.7% for patients with AMI and 19.9% for patients with both conditions (p < 0.001). The median length of stay was 4 days, 3 days and 7 days for cerebral infarction, AMI and when both occurred together, respectively (p < 0.001). The median total healthcare cost for cerebral infarction, AMI and when both occurred was US$10,647, $15,735 and $23,290, respectively (p < 0.001). After adjustments for potential confounders, in-hospital mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.07, 95% CI 3.93–4.21], length of stay (aOR 3.95 95% CI 3.85–4.04), and hospitalization cost (regression coefficient 15,480 95% CI 15,135–15,825) were greater for patients with AMI and cerebral infarction compared to admission for cerebral infarction only. Cerebral infarction and AMI during the same hospitalization occurs in 5% of admissions with cerebral infarction and 3% of admission with AMI and is associated with significant increase in mortality, length of stay and cost compared to admissions with either condition alone.