Analysis of free fatty acids in plasma for the prognosis of cardiovascular events after acute myocardial infarction: study protocol for prospective, observational, single-center cohort trial.

Abstract • Background• It is not currently known whether free fatty acids can be used as predictors for the prognosis of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The results of many studies on the correlation between free fatty acids and the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction are inconsistent. The purpose of this clinical study is to determine the predictive effect of different free fatty acids in the plasma on cardiovascular events within the 12 months after a patient suffers an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.• Methods• This study is a prospective, observational, single-center cohort study. After enrollment, all participants will receive standard treatment and will be tested for 31 kinds of plasma free fatty acids. The patients will be followed up 2, 6, and 12 months after discharge. The primary endpoint is the compound cardiovascular events from onset to 12 months, including the cumulative incidence of all-cause death, heart failure, or coronary revascularization events. According to the power and sample size calculation, it will be necessary to enroll 747 patients in this study. After follow-up, data will be collected and analyzed to explore the predictive effect of different free fatty acids in plasma on the prognosis of acute elevated ST-segment myocardial infarction, and the risk factors of the endpoint events within 12 months.• Discussion• This study will provide new insightful evidence of serum indicators indicating the 12-month cardiovascular events of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.Trial registration: This study was retrospectively registrated at Chinese Clinical Trail Registry (https://www.chictr.org.cn/) on 14th July,2021. Registration number: ChiCTR2100048731.