The impact of metabolic syndrome and hypertension on medical costs of patients with acute myocardial infarction at hospital

Objective: This study aimed to find out the impact of metabolic syndrome (MS) and hypertension on medical costs of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at hospital. Methods: Patients with AMI at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University during January 2011 to May 2013 were separated into four groups according to whether with MS or history of hypertension. Comparison of medical costs, complication rate and cost-effectiveness ratio were analyzed. Results: We found that total costs, each day costs, medical treatment costs, chemical examination costs and drug costs were significantly different in four groups. In variance analysis, MS led to high medical costs without significance. Hypertension was a significant factor influencing medical costs and lead to low medical costs. In multiple linear regression, we found that body mass index (BMI) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were important predictors of total costs and each day costs. With higher BMI and utilization rate of PCI, medical costs were increased. Trend of total costs in four groups is similar to that of the rate of PCI utilization. Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome has no impact on medical costs because of discordance in MS components. Hypertension will lead to lower PCI utilization rate, which results in less medical costs and bad hospital outcomes.