Influence of sex, age, risk factors, and comorbidities on biomarker levels in myocardial infarction

Abstract Background/Aims Biomarkers may play a role in assessing myocardial infarction (MI). However, their levels may vary depending on patient characteristics. Understanding these variations could improve risk stratification and personalized treatment approaches. This study analyzes biomarker levels in MI patients according to demographic and clinical factors. Methods This observational study analyzed 243 patients with MI admitted to a our University Hospital between 2022 and 2024. Levels of IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP, and ADMA were measured at admission, discharge, and 2 months later. Logistic regression models adjusted for age and sex were used to assess biomarker associations with age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, and comorbidities. Results Among the 243 patients, the median age was 68 years, and nearly two-thirds were male. Women with MI were significantly older than men (70.4 vs. 66.2 years, p=0.02). No significant differences in biomarker levels were observed by sex, and no associations were found between biomarker levels and the presence of treated autoimmune disease. Elevated levels of hs-CRP, both in the acute and stable phases, were significantly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), age, and hypertension (ORs ranging from 1.3 to 3.6; p<0.05). Increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were associated with age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and CKD (ORs ranging from 1.4 to 29.6 p<0.05). These associations were stronger at discharge and follow-up compared to admission, suggesting that inflammation is mainly driven by chronic conditions, while the inflammation caused by the ischemia-reperfusion of the infarction decreases over time. Higher ADMA levels were associated with the absence of diabetes (OR 0.37, p 0.009). Table 1 shows the associations between biomarker levels and clinical characteristics, while Figure 1 illustrates these relationships. Conclusions Associations with hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were observed in relation to age, cardiovascular risk factors, and CKD. Most of these associations were more pronounced at discharge and after two months. No associations were found with sex or the presence of treated autoimmune disease.T1.Association of BM and characteristics Figure 1