Prolonged Fever After ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Long‐Term Cardiac Outcomes

BackgroundThe biphasic inflammation after ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) plays an important role in myocardial healing and progression of systemic atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of fever during the first and second phases of post‐STEMI inflammation on long‐term cardiac outcomes. Methods and ResultsA total of 550 patients with STEMI were enrolled in this study. Axillary body temperature (BT) was measured and maximum BTs were determined for the first (within 3 days: max‐BT1–3d) and second (from 4 to 10 days after admission: max‐BT4–10d) phases, respectively. Patients were followed for cardiac events (cardiovascular death, acute coronary syndrome, and rehospitalization for heart failure) for a median 5.3 years. During the follow‐up period, 80 patients experienced cardiac events. A high max‐BT4–10d was strongly associated with long‐term cardiac events (hazard ratio, 95% CI) for a 1°C increase in the max‐BT4–10d: 2.834 (2.017–3.828), P