Relation between the Serum Ferritin Level and the Risk for Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Increased estimated body iron stores have been suggested to be associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the question of whether serum ferritin level as an indicator for estimating body iron is an independent risk factor for cardiac events is still questioned. In this study, we assessed whether serum ferritin was associated with the incidence of AMI. Methods: The study population consisted of 100 consecutive male patients with first AMI, including 50 suffered from ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) and 50 with non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) diagnosis, admitted within 12 hours of the onset of chest pain to coronary care units (CCU) at Ekbatan hospital in Hamadan, Iran in 2014. A control group (n = 50) was selected among men without history of AMI from the same hospital. Serum ferritin was measured using ELISA assay at the first and fifth days after admission. Results: The first and fifth day serum ferritin concentrations averaged 56.75 and 112.5 µg/dl in STEMI group, 36.5 and 87.25 µg/dl in NSTEMI group, and 22.5 and 42.0 µg/dl in control group that was significantly higher in former group (P=0.001). Serum ferritin level was also significantly higher in AMI group compare to control group (P=0.001). Multivariable logistic regression model showed that the elevated level of serum ferritin could predict occurrence of STEMI adjusted for initial ferritin concentration, patients’ age and coronary disease risk factors (OR=5.1, P=0.017). Conclusions: Elevated serum ferritin can be a factor for predicting AMI especially STEMI.