MedWire News: Patients who have suffered an 'incomplete' heart attack, in which only partial blockage of an artery has occurred, are no less likely to suffer a repeat heart attack after hospital discharge than those who were originally admitted for a 'full-blown' heart attack, study results show.

The findings contradict the belief that heart attack patients whose arteries had been completely, instead of partially, blocked are at greatest risk of repeat attacks after discharge.

They also suggest that some heart attack patients may not be receiving the best medical treatment and follow-up care because doctors are misjudging their risk of further heart attacks.

Dr Keith Fox, from the University of Edinburgh in the UK, and colleagues analysed data on more than 46,000 heart attack patients from 115 hospitals in 14 countries.

The team found that patients with full heart attacks were more likely to have another heart attack or die within 15 days than those with incomplete heart attacks.

However, after 15 days, the situation was reversed and patients who had originally suffered an incomplete heart attack were more likely to suffer a repeat event than those who had originally suffered full heart attacks.

"Our findings are of concern because we believe that the risk for patients whose heart attack was originally considered not as severe may be being misjudged," said Dr Fox. "As a result there may be some patients who should be, but are not, receiving treatments such as the placing of stents to open up the artery, drug treatments and lifestyle changes which could prevent a further heart attack from occurring."

He added: "This does not mean to say that all patients who have had a heart attack will need surgical intervention, but that doctors should carry out a simple recommended risk assessment that unfortunately is not being routinely used, but which takes in a variety of factors to help work out the best treatment."

The research is published in the journal Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine.