Tuberculosis Raises the Risk for a First Heart Attack

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) can cause an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to results of a new study.

To conduct their study, the researchers assessed patients who had had a first-time diagnosis of type 1 (spontaneous) AMI in 2 large hospitals in Peru from July 2015 to March 2017. AMI patients (n = 105) were compared with controls who had no history of AMI (110).

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Patients with HIV infection, tuberculosis, or prior LTBI treatment were excluded from the analysis.

LTBI was identified using QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay, and the odds ratios for LTBI in AMI patients vs controls were calculated using logistic regression modeling.

Results showed that AMI patients more frequently reported LTBI than controls (64% vs 49%, respectively).

After adjusting for age, sex, and cardiometabolic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, LTBI remained independently associated with AMI.

“LTBI was independently associated with AMI,” the researchers conclude. “Our results suggest a potentially important role of LTBI in [cardiovascular disease].”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Huaman MA, Ticona E, Miranda G, et al. The relationship between latent tuberculosis infection and acute myocardial infarction. 2018;66(6):886-892. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix910.