Background: Bilirubin is a potent antioxidant and previous studies have reported the relationship between low serum bilirubin concentration and atherosclerosis.
Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of serum total bilirubin (STB) in patients with angina pectoris undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Methods: In total of 1419 patients (931 men, mean age 60.9±10.5 years) with angina pectoris who had undergone successfully percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the median baseline STB (0.49 mg/dL in this cohort), which was measured before the PCI. Patients with a STB ≥0.49 mg/dL were classified into the high STB group and those with a STB <0.49 mg/dL were classified into the low STB group.
Results: The incidence of in-hospital mortality and myocardial infraction was similar in the two groups. After a mean follow-up of 29.0±7.6 months, the incidence of death/myocardial infarction/stroke was significantly higher in low STB group compared with high STB group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that low STB was an independent predictor of death/myocardial infarction/stroke (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.59, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-2.41, P = 0.031). The cumulative survival rate free from death/myocardial infarction/stroke was lower in low STB group than in high STB group (P = 0.002).
Conclusion: Low STB levels before PCI is an independent predictor of long-term adverse clinical outcomes in patients with angina pectoris.
Keywords: Bilirubin; angina pectoris; percutaneous coronary intervention.