LAUSR

Elevated high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but little is known about the distribution of hs‐CRP levels and predictors of elevated hs‐CRP after AMI in the real world. Translational Research Investigating Underlying Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients' Health Status (TRIUMPH) and Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) are prospective AMI registries in the United States that assessed hs‐CRP levels 30 days after AMI. TRIUMPH additionally assessed hs‐CRP levels at the time of AMI and at 6 months. Hierarchical models were built to examine predictors of elevated hs‐CRP (≥2.0 mg/L) at 30 days in both registries and at 6 months after AMI in TRIUMPH. Of 3410 patients in both registries, 58.6% had elevated hs‐CRP 30 days after AMI. Patients with elevated hs‐CRP at 30 days were more likely to be older, female, obese, smokers, report financial difficulties, and have higher low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels on admission, diabetes, and hypertension. In TRIUMPH, baseline hs‐CRP ≥2 mg/L (n = 1301) was significantly associated with elevated hs‐CRP at follow‐up (P < 0.001). Similar associations were found in TRIUMPH patients with elevated hs‐CRP at 6 months. Our study identified a high prevalence and several patient characteristics associated with elevated hs‐CRP at 1 and 6 months after discharge. Further studies to test routine screening after AMI may be warranted to identify higher‐risk patients for more aggressive secondary prevention.