Previous Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Chest Pain in First Myocardial Infarction

This study is part of the CALIBER (Cardiovascular disease research using linked bespoke studies and electronic records) programme funded over 5 years from the NIHR and Wellcome Trust. The central theme of the CALIBER research is linkage of the Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) with primary care (GPRD) and other resources. The overarching aim of CALIBER is to better understand the aetiology and prognosis of specific coronary phenotypes across a range of causal domains, particularly where electronic records provide a contribution beyond traditional studies. CALIBER has received both Ethics approval (ref 09/H0810/16) and ECC approval (ref ECC 2-06(b)/2009 CALIBER dataset).

Using data from GPRD, MINAP, ONS mortality data and Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), this study will identify patients with a first MI (STEMI and non-STEMI). Information from in-patient hospital visits, general practice data and self-reported data in MINAP, this study will allow the quantification of the level and timing of cardiovascular disease before first MI. It will also measure the levels of cardiovascular risk factors and chest pain occurring before MI.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients in GPRD practices which are deemed "up to standard" by GPRD criteria will be included if their practice agreed to be linked to the MINAP dataset.
• Age over 18.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients will be excluded after experiencing their first MI.
• Patients will be excluded if they do not fulfil one of the inclusion criteria.